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Wrecks 
Around Nantucket 



Since the settlement of the island, and 
the incidents connected therewith, 
embracing over seven hundred vessels. 



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Compiled by 

ARTHUR H. GARDNER. 



ulit« Jnqntrrr. auh Minor T^ttae, Kanturkrt. 



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copyright 1915 hy Arthur H. Gardner. 



JUN23I9I5 
©CI,A401504 



Introduction to First Edition. 

In presenting this book to the public, it may be well to say a 
few words in regard to the geographical position of the island, the 
nature of the coast, and the vast extent of dangerous shoals contigu- 
ous and stretching seaward for many leagues, which have ever proved 
a terror to mariners, and upon which so many noble vessels have 
"wound up their logs" for all time, consigning myriads of human be- 
ings to a watery grave. 

The island of Nantucket is situated some thirty miles southeast 
of Massachusetts, is fifteen miles in length, with an average breadth 
of four or five, and presents a coast line of about seventy-five miles. 
Owing to the peculiar shape of the island, and the indentures 
made by the harbor, the coast line, especially on the northern side, is 
exceedingly irregular. A light sandy beach extends around the island, 
and with the exception of a small reef in Muskeget Channel and a few 
isolated ones in the immediate vicinity of the shore on the north side 
of the island and Tuckernuck, the coast is entirely clear of rocks. 
But equally to be dreaded is the vast extent of shoals which encom- 
pass it on every hand, and upon nearly every one of which some ves- 
sel has been lost. 

The chapter of wrecks is, perhaps, one of the saddest, as well as 
one of the most interesting in the history of Nantucket. Lying as it 
does directly in the track of vessels plying between the principal 
American ports north and south of the island, the waves which dash 
upon its shores, or break in angry foam upon the shoals and rips near 
by, have reaped a harvest of shipwreck and death almost unparalleled 
upon the American coast. The list of wrecks, as now completed, 
dates back to the first settlement of the island by the whites, and em- 
braces upwards of five hundred vessels. While many of these have 
been gotten off with more or less pecuniary loss to their owners, the 
number of those lost in the vicinity of the island, but not contained in 
the list, will never be known. Many a noble vessel, never heard from 
after leaving port, has laid her bones upon the dangerous shoals which 
intervene between the South Shoal Lightship and Nantucket. Parts 
of vessels have also drifted ashor*;, from time to time, of which no 
mention has been made in the list. Upon various buildings on the 
island the name of some ill-fated vessel, the figure head, or a portion 
thereof, may be seen displayed — striking reminders of the shipwrecks 
and disasters that have occurred upon our shores. 



The record previous to 1800, and more especially that part of it 
embraced within the first century of the isalnd's settlement, is neces- 
sarily very meagre, but when we consider that in those early days, 
when the country was but sparsely populated, and the chief depen- 
dence of the settlers lay in their own agricultural productions, but 
little maritime commerce was carried on, and that mostly in open 
boats, it will be seen that a wreck on our island then must have been 
a rare occurrence, and therefore that portion of the list is not so in- 
complete as it might appear. 

Owing to the precautions taken by Government for the better 
protection of mariners, the number of disasters upon our shores have 
perceptibly diminished of late years. The first lighthouse erected in 
the United States was built on Brant Point about the year 1746, and 
was placed there by private enterprise. It was a sort of tripod ar- 
rangement, resembling an inverted leach tub, and the light, which 
was placed in the top, could only be approached by means of a ladder 
from the outside. This structure eventually blew down, and was re- 
placed by a more pretentious one, which was ceded to Government in 
1759 : The next lighthouse erected on the island was at Great (then 
called Sandy) Point. This also was erected by private enterprise and 
was ceded to the Government in 1784. The lighthouse at Sankaty 
Head was established by the Government in 1850. This light shows a 
brilliant flash of ten seconds duration once in every minute, and a 
fixed light during the remaining fifty seconds. Owing to the fact 
that the light on Gay Head is a flashing one, Sankaty Head light 
has been frequently mistaken for it, and a number of vessels have 
been stranded on the south side of Nantucket in consequence. In 1831, 
some fourteen humane houses were built by private enterprise, pro- 
visioned, and placed at various points around the island, that ship- 
wrecked mariners might find food and shelter near at hand. The most 
of these houses are still standing. Some three years since, a build- 
ing known as "Life-Saving Station, No. 14" was erected at Surf- 
Side, just east of the Miacomet Pond, and during the winter months, 
men from this station patrol the beach nightly for miles on either 
hand. The Massachusetts Humane Society have also erected a build- 
ing in town and furnished it with apparatus to be used in cases of 
shipwreck. 

The writer is under acknowledgments to Hon. William R. Eas- 
ton. Captains Matthew Crosby, William Baxter, Samuel Winslow, 
Mesdrs. Alexander Starbuck, F. C. Sanford, Joseph S. Barney, I. & 
P. Macy, Hussey & Robinson, the Trustees of the Atheneum, and 
many others, for files of Nantucket papers, old records, and items of 
information, which have tended to. 'ih'crease the correctness and inter- 
est of the work now presented. 

ARTHUR H. GARDNER. 

Nantucket, Mass., August, 1877. 



Introduction to Revised Edition. 

The former edition of "Wrecks Around Nantucket" was com- 
piled in 1876, and first appeared in The Inquirer and Mirror as a se- 
rial contribution. The interest it aroused prompted the author (who 
was a recent graduate of that office) to publish it in pamphlet form, 
and the proprietors, Messrs. Hussey & Robinson, kindly tendered the 
free use of their office and material for that purpose. 

To cover the cost of paper alone for the proposed edition required 
an assured sale of 100 copies ; but a preliminary canvass by the com- 
piler failed to secure the requisite guarantee. Nevertheless he as- 
sumed the risk ( ?) and as that represented practically the whole out- 
lay (the type-setting, press work and binding being done by himself) 
the venture proved fairly remunerative in the end. 

Shortly after its publication the project of improving the en- 
trance to Nantucket harbor to make it available as a harbor of refuge 
was brought to the attention of Congress, and the data contained in 
this work proved a valuable argument in support of the proposition. 
In fact, it was stated that the copies of the pamphlet on wrecks 
placed in the hands of the congressional committee aided materially 
in securing the favorable report which resulted in the construction of 
the jetties. 

The edition, which was limited to less than 500 copies, was ex- 
hausted many years ago and its republication has been often urged 
and long contemplated, but other duties and interests have hitherto 
interfered. Now, after the lapse of nearly forty years, the author 
has yielded to renewed requests to again take up the pen and complete 
the record to date. A few corrections and additions have been made 
to the former list, which, supplemented by the record since its publi- 
cation, swells the number chronicled by the revised edition to about 
seven hundred and fifty. 

Many of these disasters have called forth deeds of daring and 
heroism by the hardy boatmen of Nantucket, who have never hesitated to 
risk their own lives to rescue shipwrecked mariners. The trained life- 
savers of the several stations, who unflinchingly face danger and hard- 
ship and possibly death when duty calls, can receive no compensation 
other than their stipulated salary, but extra hazardous service by vol- 
unteer crews and individuals is recognized and encouraged by the Mas- 
sachusetts Humane Society by the awarding of medals and money and 
on one or two occasions has received special recognition by the U. S. 
government. A list of recipients is appended to this work and is an 
honor roll of which any community might be justly proud. 

Since the former publication three life-saving stations have been 
added — one at Coskata in 1883, one on Muskeget in 1883, and a 
third at Great Neck, Maddaket, in 1891. The crews of the four sta- 
tions patrol some twenty-five or thirty miles of the most dangerous 



section of our coast line, the Great Neck and Surfside beats joining 
and extending from Smith's Point on the west along more than half 
the southern seaboard. Coskata station covers Great point and the sec- 
tion north of Wauwinet, while Muskeget station covers that entire 
island. 

Meantime marked changes have occurred in the coast line of Nan- 
tucket. Smith's Point originally extended some miles westward of 
its present terminus and is sometimes referred to as Smith's Point 
Island in the former edition. At various times since the settlement 
of the island, during a severe storm the sea has made a clean sweep 
across the point, cutting a channel through it to the southward of 
Tuckernuck, and transforming it into an island. This channel would 
in time fill up again and remain so perhaps for many years; therefore 
it will be understood that whenever reference is made to "Smith's 
Point Island" the point was at that time cut off from the main isl- 
and. In March, 1870, a channel was cut through where the humane 
house stood and the building drifted out to sea. This opening never 
closed, but Smith's Point Island as it then existed has disappeared, 
having gradually washed away on the south and made out at the 
north, until it "crossed the channel" and united itself to Tuckernuck, 
while the Gravelley Islands nearby have been practically blotted out. 
During a severe storm in December, 1896, the sea swept across the 
' ' Haulover, ' ' cutting a channel from the ocean to the harbor, at the 
northward of Wauwinet, which steadily widened and deepened, trans- 
forming the section comprising Great Point, Coskata and Coatue into 
a separate island. This channel opened up a new entrance to the har- 
bor, navigable by small vessels and steamers until about five years 
ago, when it gradually succumbed to shifting sands, which eventually 
closed it entirely, and the two islands are again united. Along the 
south side of the island the sea has made serious inroads and where 
twenty-five years ago the Nantucket railroad skirted the bluff at Surf- 
side is now "back of the breakers," while on the north side of the 
island, especially near the western jetty, the beach has made out cor- 
respondingly. Two jetties of rip-rap stone, starting from the Cliff 
beach and Coatue point respectively, extend northward about a mile 
in converging lines to the outer bar, restricting the entrance to the 
harbor to a walled channel, and resulting in a materially increased 
depth of water. This work, begun by the U.S. government in 1881, 
has thus far cost upwards of $525,000. 

The invention of wireless telegraphy has added an invaluable 
safeguard to mariners. The first station in America was established 
at Siasconset in August, 1901, and placed in communication with the 
South Shoal lightship, forty miles from land. Four years later it 
proved the salvation of all on board that lonely beacon when the ves- 
sel sprang a leak and was in imminent danger of foundering at her 
anchors. The call for help was sent out over the water and U. S. 



steamer Azalea was rushed to their assistance, arriving just in the 
nick of time. The sinking vessel was taken in tow, but ere half the 
distance to shore had been covered she plunged beneath the waves and 
disappeared, her crew barely escaping with their lives. Again, in 
January, 1909, when two ocean liners collided in a dense fog, sixty 
miles off Nantucket, and the palatial steamship "Republic," with a 
thousand passengers on board, was being slowly but steadily engulfed, 
the wireless station at 'Sconset "picked up" the call for help and 
flashed the message over hundreds of miles to incoming steamers at 
sea and naval stations on land. Within a few hours of the disaster 
eight tugs and ocean steamers were rushing to the scene from all di- 
rections and every one of the imperilled lives was saved. The "Re- 
public" sank midway to shore, while the "Florida," badly stoven, 
succeeded in reaching port under convoy. 

By reference to the map, which has been prepared especially for 
this work, the site of every disaster recorded may readily be located. 
In November, 1892, the South Shoal lightship which had until then 
been stationed at Old South Shoal, 14 miles from Nantucket, was re- 
moved to Davis South Shoal, 8 miles farther south, and a few years 
later to her present location, southwest of Asia Rip, and 42 miles S. 
S. E. from Sankaty. The two former locations are shown on the map, 
but the present one is far beyond its limits. Illustrations of some of 
the wrecks recorded have been secured and will enhance the interest 
of the book. 

The compilation of this work has called for patient and careful 
research, rather than literary effort. It is, as its title indicates — a 
chronological record of a single line of events, which in the aggregate 
constitute a separate and distinct chapter in the history of Nantucket. 
It has been the aim of the writer to make this record as complete and 
accurate as possible. Upon his success along these lines rests its 
value as an addition to our island literature. 

ARTHUR H. GARDNER. 

Nantucket, Mass., April, 1915. 



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Wrecks Around Nantucket 



[There is an old Indian tradition that some time previous to the 
settlement of the island by the whites, a French ship, having on board 
a quantity of specie, came ashore at the east end of the island in a 
severe storm, and was driven up into what is called the "Gulch," a 
trifle to the westward of Siasconset, and wrecked. The island at the 
time was so thickly wooded in that vicinity that they were compelled 
to cut their way through the forest to reach the Indian settlements. 
Such is substantially the tradition, as remembered by many of our 
older inhabitants, and it is submitted for what it is worth. That the 
story was not wholly regarded as a myth by our ancestors, is shown 
from the fact that the beach in that vicinity has been thoroughly dug 
over within a hundred years, in the vain hope of unearthing the ship's 
treasure, which was said to have been buried there.] 

1664. 

During this year, a vessel bound from the Vineyard to Boston 
was wrecked on the island, and all on board were drowned, or killed 
by the Indians. Among those murdered was a Christian Indian named 
Joel, a senior at Harvard College, and son of the Indian preacher, 
Hiacoomes. 

1669. 

June 6th, a canoe, containing John Barnard and his wife Bethia, 
Eleazer Folger, Isaac Coleman and an Indian, in crossing from the 
Vineyard to Nantucket, was upset and all the occupants were lost, 
with the exception of Eleazer Folger, who clung to the boat, and was 
drifted onto a shoal where he could reach the bottom. He succeeded 
in turning the canoe over, and with a ploughshare that was tied to it, 
bailed the water out. He then got into the canoe, and being very 
much exhausted, went to sleep. When he awoke, the canoe was 
ashore near Morris Island, Cape Cod. [The wife of John Barnard was 
Bethia Folger, daughter of Peter and Mary, and an aunt of Dr. Ben- 
jamin Franklin.] 

1673. 

July 5th, a Dutch ship called the "Exportation," commanded by 
Isaac Mellyne, from New York, bound to Holland, loaded with 90 
barrels of whale oil, 83 hogsheads of tobacco, 473 pieces of logwood. 



12 

and 150 cows' hides, was cast away abreast of Siasconset in the reign 
of Charles the Second. Tristram Coffin was appointed agent for ship 
and cargo. The cargo was all saved, but the ship was lost. — [W. C. 
Folger MSS. 

1678. 

September — , a French ship, Capt. Bernard LeMoyne, with a 
cargo of hides, was wrecked on Nantucket Shoals. This wreck was 
"the occasion of considerable acrimony" among the early settlers. 
Tristram Coffin was at that time Military Governor of the island, 
then under the rule of New York. By his order the ship was wrecked, 
so far as it would pay, after which he abandoned her to others, with 
the very best intentions, but she was soon taken possession of by the 
people, and divested of the balance of her cargo, etc. Mr. Coffin was 
reported to Governor Andros of New York, who at once put him under 
court-martial and trial. While the proceedings incident to this case 
occupy considerable space in the early court records, they shed little or 
no light upon the character and destination of the vessel or the cir- 
cumstances attending her loss. In one place she is referred to as 
having been "cast away by some of Capt. Bernard LeMoyne's men," 
in another as "the ship that was brought on shore by John Rogers, 
who appeared to us to have command of the ship." Mention is made 
of Dutch prisoners on board and of Dutchmen who assisted in saving 
the cargo. From returns to the court by Tristram Coffin it appears 
there was saved from the wreck "2016 hyds valued at £403-4s ; 
I cable, £44; 1 sayle £6-10s; 2 pieces hassar, •£11; 1 anker, ^13 
— Total ^477-14s." Also, "3 gunes" and some other articles left 
on the island. Among the disbursements enumerated are "396 pounds 
bife put aboard fower vessels for the duch men's diat, £4-19s; 4 fat 
wethers, £2 ; money given 6 wounded men ^3 ; 4s each to 5 duch men 
to bare there charges from Salem to boston £l." The court allowed 
him one-fifth of the salvage and credited him with his disbrusements 
"on account of some duch prisoners left on the island and what was 
paid Willaim Worth for his wound, amounting in all to £l35-lls, " 
charging him with the balance ^343-lOs, which he was ordered to 
pay. As to pay this would impoverish him and he had not profited by 
the transaction he applied to the governor for a reduction of the fine. 
Meantime John Gardner had succeeded Mr. Coffin as Chief Magistrate 
on the island and likewise wrote the governor in his behalf. Mr. 
Gardner's letter to Governor Andros, portraying the excellent charac- 
ter of Mr. Coffin, is full of charity, good feeling and neighborly dis- 
position. The governor considerately compromised the matter, on 
payment of "an hundred & fifty pounds boston money," Mr. Coffin's 
sons Peter and James paying the fine for him. 

Another vessel was lost on the island about the same time. 



13 

1691. 
May — , brigantine "Dolphin" was wrecked on this island. 

1692. 
During this year, a vessel was lost on Nantucket Shoals and two 
passengers drowned. 

1704. 
November — , some horses, barrels and lumber came ashore on 
the island, probably from some wreck. 

1724. 
March 5th, a brig, Capt. Foster, from Surinam, was lost on the 
island. 

1744. 
October 30th, a small sloop, bound from Nantucket to the main- 
land, with eight people on board, was lost on Horse Shoe Shoal, and 
all probably perished, viz. : David Folger, master and owner, his son, 
Richard Swain, and another white man, two Indian men, a squaw and 
a pappoose. 

1746. 
During this year, a large sloop, Capt. LangstafF, bound from 
Boston to Philadelphia, drove ashore high and dry. 

1756. 
January 1st, a vessel, Capt. Paddock of and for Boston from 
North Carolina, was wrecked on or near the island. 

1760. 
December — , a sloop of 80 or 90 tons from North Carolina to 
Boston was stranded on the Bar and abandoned. 

1761. 
December 6th, a sloop with a cargo of flour came ashore on Great 
Point. One of the crew, a boy sixteen years of age, perished with 
cold. The vessel and cargo were totally lost. 

1766. 

October — , a vessel, Capt. Pinkham, was burned while "trying 
out." 

December 29th, a schooner, Capt. Simms, from Martinico, waa 
wrecked on Great Point. 

1770. 

January — , a vessel, Capt. Child, from Maryland to Boston, 
with a cargo of wheat, was wrecked on the island. The vessel was 
totally lost, and the cargo badly damaged. 

November — , a sloop from the Vineyard, Capt. Ephraim Pease, 
was wrecked on the island. 



14 

1771. 
December 6th, English sloop "Paoli," Delap, of and for Hali- 
fax, N. S., from Philadelphia, was cast ashore on Great Point during 
a violent gale and snow storm. All on board succeeded in getting 
ashore, but Captain Delap and the mate, Mr. Otis, both natives of 
Barnstable, perished on the point. Two of the sailors attempted to 
walk to town and perished on Coatue point. Two others and a boy 
named John Weiderhold, succeeded in reaching a barn at Squam, and 
placing the boy between them, covered themselves with hay and kept 
from freezing. The vessel was discovered from town next day, high 
and dry on the beach. Had they remained on board all would have 
been saved. The boy Weiderhold thenceforth made Nantucket his 
home and his descendants are still living here. In the old "Gardner's 
burying ground" may be seen side by side two quaintly carved tomb- 
stones, erected to the memory of the captain and mate, bearing the 
following inscriptions : 

"Here lies buried Capt. Thomas Delap of Barnftable Son of Mr 
James Delap & Mrs. Mary his wife he was caft afhore on Nantucket 
Decembr ye 6th 1771 & perifhed in ye Snowftorm There Aged 26 yrs 
7 Mos & 11 days" 

"Here lies buried Mr. Amos Otis of Barnftable ^on of Solomon 
Otis Esqr. & Mrs. Jane his wife he was Caft afhore on Nantucket 
December ye 6th 1771 & perifht In ye Snowftorm there Aged 34 
yrs 5 Mos & 11 days" 

1774. 
Janaury — , a brigantine from the We t Indies, bound to New- 
buryport, was wrecked on the island; two of the crew were frozen. 

June 10th, schooner "Lowden," Capt. Peleg Swain, and sloop 
"Rochester," Capt. David Squires, left the island in company, bound 
on a whaling voyage to the coast of Africa, but soon afterwards 
struck on Great Rip, about fifteen miles from Sankaty Head. A boat's 
crew from the sloop attempted to carry out an anchor, with a faint 
hope that they might be able to get the vessel off, but the sea ran so 
high they were compelled to drop the anchor under the bows. The 
boat was carried over the shoal, and not being able to regain the 
sloop, they made the best of their way back to the island, coming in 
round Great Point. A vessel was immediately sent to the relief of 
those in peril, but returned next day without having made any discov- 
eries. There was hope that the remaining crews might be saved; 
accordingly a large number of the inhabitants patrolled the shore and 
kept a constant lookout. The quarter-deck of the sloop separated 
from the vessel nearly whole ; the crew, thirteen in number, got upon 
it and endeavored to gain the shore. Their only provisions consisted 



15 

of about three-quarters of a barrel of flour and a jug of rum. By 
daylight they succeeded in reaching the southeast part of the island, 
whence they travelled to Siasconset. The crew of the schooner did 
not fare so well. Their boats being dashed to pieces, they made a 
raft of spars, and without provisions of any kind, with paddles and 
pieces of board, attempted to gain the shore. In the evening of the 
same day on which the other crew landed, they got within a short dis- 
tance of Siasconset. The tide was sweeping them by undiscovered 
by the people of the village. They then hallooed with their united 
voices many times. Their cries were first heard by an old woman, 
who lay dying in one of the houses in the village. She insisted that 
she could hear voices on the water, but it was supposed that her mind 
was wandering, and no attention was paid to her statements. They 
were at length heard by others in the village, and responded to. A 
boat was immediately sent off, which took them from their perilous 
situation and brought them ashore, exhausted with hunger and fa- 
tigue. But for the fine weather they must inevitably have perished. 

1777. 

November — , an open vessel, with a cargo of lumber, was 
wrecked on one of the small islands near Nantucket in a severe storm. 
Three men, two white women, and one negro woman perished. Two 
men were taken from the wreck thirty-six hours after the storm, and 
carried to Nantucket by some Indians. 

1782. 

January 1st, a whaleboat, containing seven men, who were going 
on board a brig anchored back of the Bar, was upset in attempting 
to cross the Bar and all the occupants were drowned. 

1784. 

July — , a vessel, Capt. Canady, bound from Tobago, West In- 
dies to Boston, was wrecked at the back of Nantucket. Nothing saved. 

1793. 

October 17th, ship "Sally," Capt. Daniel Richards, of Haver- 
hill, was wrecked on the southwest side of the island. 

November — , a sloop belonging in Provincetown, Capt. Sim- 
mons, bound from Passamaquoddy to Providence, with a cargo of fish, 
oil and grindstones, went ashore on Sandy Point. 

1794. 

February 2d, sloop "Good Intent," Briggs, of Newport, was 
lost on Smith's Point Island. 

1795. 

November 25th, a vessel, commanded by James Scott, was lost 
on Coatue. 



16 

November 25th, a sloop, Capt. Dunham, was lost on the north 
side of the island. 

1796. 

December—, ship "Julian," Capt. Ingrahm, from Charleston, 
S. C, to Boston, was lost on this island. 

1798. 

August 14th, brig "Sally," Rutherford, of and for Newbury- 
port, with a cargo of coal, was lost at Low Beach. 

[We find from an old record that "the winter of 1798-9 set in 
cold and blustering early, accompanied by a number of storms, in 
which many have suffered shipwreck, and two strangers were cast 
ashore at the back of Great Point."] 

1799. 

December 3d, a schooner, bound from Boston to Baltimore, struck 
on Tuckernuck Shoal and lost her rudder, one cable and an anchor. 
She drove from thence on to the Bar, and finally went ashore in the 
Chord of the Bay, on the inside of Great Point. Her cargo was dis- 
charged, and she was gotten off the 28th of the same month. 

1800. 

February 28th, a schooner, bound from Martinique to Old York, 
got among the shoals to the eastward of the island, in a severe storm 
of snow, wind and rain. She lost her large cable and anchor, carried 
away her foremast, and drifted about with wind and tide, but finally 
got out of her perilous position, and came in here for repairs. 

October 18th, ship "Charles," Captain Hall, from Bombay to 
Boston, with a cargo of spice, bales of cotton and cotton cloth, was 
driven ashore on Smith's Point Island in a severe storm of wind and 
rain. The cargo was about all saved and the vessel was sold at auc- 
tion for $780. She was gotten off some time the following month, 
but went ashore again on Muskeget and became a total loss. 

December 1st (or thereabout), a schooner from Georgia, loaded 
with live oak, was cast away at the back of Great Point. The ves- 
sel and cargo were subsequently sold at auction for $92. Most of the 
cargo was saved. 

1801. 

February 14th, ship "Portland," John Dicks master, of and for 
Portland, from Havana, with a cargo of four hundred hogsheads of 
molasses, went ashore near Smith's Point, for want of a pilot. Her 
cargo was discharged into lighters; the vessel probably went to pieces. 

April 10th, a sloop, Abraham Hodge master, bound from Boston 
to Philadelphia, with a cargo of rum, gin, soap, etc., was run ashore 



17 

near Sankaty Head, having lost her captain, who was swept off the 
bowsprit while handling the jib. The vessel was half full of water 
when run ashore and soon afterwards went to pieces. Out of the 
whole cargo, only twenty boxes of soap were saved. 

April 10th, a schooner, bound from Boston to the West Indies, 
loaded with provisions and lumber, drove ashore in the Chord of the 
Bay ; she probably got off. 

1802. 

August — , brig "Mary," bound from Boston to New York, was 
lost on Tuckernuck Shoals. 

December — , a schooner, loaded with tar and cotton, was cast 
ashore on Smith's Point. 

1803. 

January — , a large brig from Turk's Island, belonging in Ports- 
mouth, having on board a cargo of 6,666 bushels of salt, was cast 
away at the west end of the island, near Hither Creek. The mate, 
in attempting to get ashore, was swept off and drowned. The cargo 
was lost, and the vessel became a total wreck. She was sold at auc- 
tion for $120. 

Same month, ship "Semiramis," from the East Indies, bound to 
New York, with a cargo valued at $500,000, was lost on Long Shoal. 

February 4th, the New Bedford packet, "Aurora," in coming 
in over the Bar, struck and bilged. The crew and passengers came 
ashore safely in their boat. The vessel was stripped of sails, rigging, 
etc., and sold at auction as she lay, for $158. An unsuccessful at- 
tempt was made by the purchasers, on the 8th, to raise her by lashing 
two vessels down to her at low tide. On the 11th, she drove from 
the Bar towards Brant Point in a gale from the north, and went to 
pieces. 

October 31st, a schooner brig, bound from New York to Bristol, 
was driven ashore near the mouth of the Creeks in a heavy N. N. E. 
gale. 

1804. 

January 7th, brig "Fame," Capt. James Pitts, from Boston to 
Norfolk, loaded with rum, fish, candles, shoes, cheese, etc., went 
ashore on the inside of Great Point and bilged. The cargo was con- 
siderably damaged, and the vessel was subsequently sold at auction 
for $100. 

January 18th, a schooner belonging at Cape Cod, Capt. Sears, 
from Alexandria to Boston, with a cargo of flour and raisins, went 
ashore at Smith's Point, bilged and filled with water. The crew got 
ashore with considerable difficulty, all of them being frost-bitten. 



18 

The cargo was saved and brought to town, and the vessel sold at auc- 
tion for $41. 

April — , brig "Joanna," Brown, of Gloucester, went ashore on 
Great Point, but was subsequently gotten off. 

October — , schooner "Republican," Solomon Boston, master, 
loaded with staves, came ashore on the outside of Great Point, near 
the lighthouse; the crew were saved. As soon as the vessel struck, 
the captain took his wife, who was on board at the time, in his arms, 
jumped overboard and swam ashore. The party were kindly cared for 
at the lighthouse. The wreck was purchased by George Swain, keep- 
er of the light, for $50, and broken up. 

November 12th, a brig, of and for Portsmouth, from Martinico, 
Capt. Doane, with a cargo of sugar and molasses, went ashore at Low 
Beach. She had met with bad weather on this coast, sprung a leak, 
had all her sails blown away, and the crew were completely beat out. 
Only about forty hogsheads of molasses were saved; the vessel went 
to pieces. 

November — , a schooner, Capt. Reynolds, loaded with lumber, 
came ashore on the inside of Great Point; probably got off. 

[In addition to the above vessel, a number of others were cast 
ashore during the winter, the particulars of which the writer has been 
unable to learn.] 

1805. 

February 10th, an hermaphrodite brig, Capt. Lee, from Suri- 
nam, with a cargo of molasses, came ashore at the east side of the 
island. The cargo was principally saved and sold at auction, bringing 
from 48 to 67 cents per gallon. The vessel beat up to high water 
mark, and was sold for $278. 

December 30th, brig Eliza, Capt. Matthew Dole, of Newbury- 
port from Martinico, went ashore at Low Beach. 

1806. 

January 28th, a schooner, having on board 680 barrels of flour, 
was driven from her anchorage at Chatham in a gale, and grounded on 
Great Point Rip. The crew, who were on shore at the time of her 
breaking adrift, were unable to get to her by reason of the gale. She 
remained aground just a week, then floated off and went to sea; 170 
barrels of flour in all were saved. 

March 24th, sloop "Julian," Capt. Reuben Ramsdell, bound to 
Boston, with a cargo of oil and candles, was cast ashore on Great 
Point, in a heavy gale of wind accompanied by snow. The crew and 
cargo were saved. Two other vessels went ashore at the same time. 
A brig, from Virginia to Boston, with a load of coal, anchored about 
seven miles northeast of the Point, cut away both masts and rode out 



19 

the gale in safety, but was soon missing. Considerable damage was 
done to the shipping in this port; several vessels sunk, and many 
were otherwise injured. Ship "Fame," which had just arrived 
from a Cape Horn voyage, drove ashore to the southward of South 
Wharf. 

August 24th, ship "Olive," from New York, with a cargo of 
coffee, sugar, cocoa and oil, lying at the Bar, drifted over during the 
night and bilged. The greater part of the cargo was damaged by wa- 
ter. The ship was subsequently sold for $234. 

1807. 

November — , sloop ' ' Packet, ' ' Brown Coffin master, was wrecked 
on the Bar. 

November — , whaleship "Cato," of this port, Solomon Folger 
master, got on to the north end of Great Rip. With great difficulty 
and expense she was brought to the Bar, where her cargo was dis- 
charged. The ship subsequently went to pieces. 

1808. 

March — , brig "Thomas & Mary," from Norfolk to Boston, 
with a cargo of flour and tobacco, went ashore on Great Point. 

1809. 

January 15th, a schooner pilot boat came ashore at Low Beach. 

1810. 

February 9th, a brig, Capt. Calvin Bunker, from Cape D'Verde, 
with a cargo of salt, grounded on the Bar. She floated with the tide, 
with loss of rudder and boat. The wind blowing very heavy from the 
northward forced her by Brant Point and into the harbor. 

March 5th, schooner "Susan," Capt. George G. Hussey, which 
left this port for St. Bartholomew the day before, was wrecked on or 
near the South Shoals, and all on board perished. The wreck was 
fallen in with two days later, with masts, boat and deck gone, and 
flour, sperm candles, etc., floating on the water; seven boxes of can- 
dles were picked up. 

1811. 

February 23d, schooner "Caroline," from North Carolina to 
Plymouth, loaded with tar, ran ashore at the south side of the island, 
near the head of Hummock Pond, in distress, having lost cables, an- 
chors and boats at Low Beach two days before. They were out of 
water, had but very little provisions of any kind, and the vessel was 
leaking badly ; added to this the weather was very cold. She went 
ashore about sundown. People from town immediately went to their 
relief They found the water breaking all over the vessel and the 
crew in the shrouds. She lay so far from the shore that they could 



20 

not be relieved until two men were sent to town for a coil of rigging. 
Tiiey were gone four hours and in the meantime one of the crew tell 
into the sea and was drowned. The rest, by means of the rope, were 
hauled ashore, almost lifeless with cold, hunger and thirst, and were 
comfortably provided for. The cargo was mostly discharged, and the 
vessel sold at auction for $40; also the sails, rigging, etc., and fifty 
barrels of tar, at $2.25 per barrel. 

March 6th, brig "Ocean," of this port, Capt. Samuel Gelston, 
from Rio Janeiro, with a cargo of hides and honey, came round Great 
Point with a N. E. wind, which soon increased to a heavy gale, ac- 
companied by a smothering snow storm. At 1 p. m., she went ashore 
in the Chord of the Bay, on the back side of Coatue. She had had an 
unexpectedly long passage and their provisions were nearly exhausted. 
The vessel and cargo were probably saved. 

December 24th, a small sloop from Connecticut, bound to Chat- 
ham, with a load of provisions and wood, went ashore in the Chord of 
the Bay. The crew and one woman passenger landed in their boat, 
and continued on the beach and under the boat until noon next day, 
when they were brought to town in a suffering condtion, by a boat 
that went up, notwithstanding the weather was very cold. The vessel 
bilged and probably went to peices. 

December 24th, a sloop of 90 tons burthen, bound from Portland 
to Boston, with a load of cord wood, was driven ashore on Smith's 
Point Island and bilged. She was sold, with thirty cords of wood, to 
the inhabitants of Tuckernuck, for $54. 

1812. 

January 18th, a large ship from Lisbon, bound to Boston, in 
ballast, went ashore on Muskeget and bilged. 

December — , a sloop from Connecticut, bound to Chatham, with 
provisions, etc., was wrceked in the Chord of the Bay. 

December 21st, English ship "Sir Sidney Smith," a prize to the 
American privateer "General Armstrong," of New York, struck on 
Bass Rip, off Siasconset, and all on board perished within sight of 
the people on shore, who were unable to render them any assistance. 
The crew took refuge in the shrouds, and some were seen to fall off 
into the water from time to time as their strength gave out or they 
became numbed with cold, until finally the vessel rolled over and 
sunk, burying the remainder with her. Notwithstanding it was ex- 
tremely cold, the mail packet, Capt. Childs, with a crew of volun- 
teers, had started to go to their relief, but was compelled to put back 
on account of the weather. Nothing was ever recovered from the 
wreck, although she had on board a very valuable cargo. 



21 

1813. 

January 4th, a vessel broken in two came ashore at Nobadeer. 
She proved to be the English ship "Queen," a prize to the American 
privateer "General Armstrong," and her cargo of assorted merchan- 
dise was strewn along the shore from Siasconset to Miacomet Pond. 
The shore was immediately lined with hundreds of people, who worked 
day and night to secure the property, but with no regard for order, 
each one helping himself to whatever he could lay hold of. Carts plied 
day and night between the shore and town, and fires and lanterns were 
kept burning on the beach. The goods consisted of hundreds of hogs- 
heads of bottled porter, sauer kraut, cheese, hams, ready-made cloth- 
ing, duck, hats, a large number of bales, trunks and boxes of costly 
goods, &c., &c. The value of the goods was variously estimated at 
from $10,000 to $40,000, but what became of them all does not now 
appear, as they were carted off in the manner described and secreted; 
there are, however, sundry articles which came from the Queen in ex- 
istence upon the island to this day, preserved as souvenirs. At the 
time of her capture, the Queen was bound from England to Demarara, 
with a cargo invoiced at ^100, 000; she was taken by the priviateer 
after an action in which several were killed and wounded. The priva- 
teer took out about $50,000 or $60,000 worth of watches, jewelry, 
etc. Agents for John Barnard, master of the privateer, came here 
after the goods, but were unable to find many of them. Law-suits 
and trouble ensued, not only with the agents, but among the people 
themselves, who charged one another with stealing rescued goods. 
Dead bodies were washed ashore from time to time the following^ 
month, and men were engaged all summer in saving such part of the 
cargo as had sunk back of the surf, as pig iron, large boiler guns, 
grindstones, white lead, cutlery, etc. They employed an Oyhee man, 
who dove to bottom and slung the articles, which were then hove 
ashore by means of a capstan. Had John Barnard succeeded in get- 
ting his prizes, the "Sir Sidney Smith" and the "Queen," into New 
York, they would have yielded him an independent fortune. A man 
named Joel West, who had worked at house carpentering on this island, 
was prize master of one of these vessels. 

January 6th, a brig was discovered aground on Round Shoal, with 
a signal of distress flying. A sloop started to her assistance, 
but before she reached her, the vessel got off. 

January 7th, a schooner was seen sunk on Long Shoal by the mail 
packet. The men were taken off by another vessel. 

April 7th, brig "London Packet," a prize to the American pri- 
vateer "Paul Jones," was seen off the south side of the island, in 
want of a pilot, and boarded by Henry Macy, of this town. She kept 
along shore until midnight, when a schooner was discovered standing 



22 

in for her. This so alarmed them that they put the vessel ashore to 
the westward of Miacomet Pond. The schooner then stood off, after 
being fired at several times by the brig. The brig was subsequently 
stripped and the wrecked material carted to town. When captured by 
the privateer the brig was bound from Cork, Ireland, to Madrid, in 
ballast. 

, Swedish ship " Princesson, " from London to New York, 

stranded on Pollock Rip. 

1814. 

February — , a schooner belonging in Lyme, Conn., bound from 
Carolina to New York, with a cargo of cotton and peanuts, ran ashore 
at the southwest side of the island, near the head of Long Pond, and 
bilged. She had been taken nine weeks before by an English frigate 
and sent to Bermuda in charge of a midshipman (a boy) and three 
Irish seamen. For want of a navigator, they could not find Bermuda 
and were quite out of provisions when landed. They were sent to 
Boston and put on board the prison ship. The peanuts on this vessel 
were the first ever brought to the island in any quantity, and were 
looked upon with disfavor by many, who likened their taste to "raw 
beans." 

March 11th, a sloop with a Spanish captain, from Havana, with 
a cargo of molasses, sugar and coffee, ran ashore on the southwest 
side of the island, near the head of Long Pond. Heavy west winds 
followed, which caused the sloop to bilge. About fifty hogsheads of 
molasses were saved, and the vessel was sold for $87. 

May 22d, a neutral schooner belonging in Boston, from the West 
Indies, with a cargo of molasses, ran ashore at the south side of the 
island near the head of Hummock pond. The cargo was mostly saved, 
but the vessel probably went to pieces. 

June 25th, Swedish schooner "Nordkoping, " Nordstrom, from 
St. Jago (Santiago, also called St. James) to Boston, was run ashore 
near what is now called Wauwinet, at the head of the harbor. Some 
time previous she had been taken by a British cruiser, her register en- 
dorsed and she ordered off the coast. Rather than be subjected to a 
second capture and condemnation, they run her ashore. Most of the 
cargo was saved, carted across the beach, and brought to town in boats. 

August — , schooner ." Westerwick" was wrecked on the south 
side of the island, near the head of Hummock Pond. 

October 10th, British ship "Douglass," a prize to the American 
privateer brig "Prince" of Neufchatel, grounded on Miacomet Shoal, 
while the latter was engaged in desperate battle off Maddequecham 
Pond with five barges sent from British frigate "Endymion," to cap- 
ture her and retake the prize. It might be well to state that the re- 



23 

suit of the engagement, which lasted about thirty-five minutes, was 
that one launch, having on board forty-eight men, was sunk, and but 
two men saved; one containing thirty-six at the commencement of the 
action was captured, having had eight men killed and twenty wounded; 
the other three drifted from alongside the brig with the current, with- 
out a man to be seen in them. Another account says that one small 
boat containing only the surgeon and four men escaped to return to 
the "Endymion." The frigate, having lost fully one-third of her 
fighting force in this disastrous affair, stood westward and went out 
of sight. On board the "Prince of Neufchatel," several were killed, 
among whom was Charles J. Hilburn, of this town, who had gone on 
board as pilot. The wounded prisoners were sent ashore here and 
landed at Sesachacha, then a village of thirty or forty houses, where 
some of the more severely wounded died; those who were able to bear 
it were brought to town and cared for.* The Douglass lay aground on 
the shoal until night, when she floated off and headed to the eastward. 
She was afterwards run ashore at Sesachacha and became a complete 
wreck. At the time of her capture, she had on board a cargo of 421 
hogsheads, 2 tierces and one barrel of sugar, 190 puncheons of rum, 
6 hogsheads of molasses, 412 bags of coffee, 3 bags of ginger, 254 
bales of cotton, and 28 logs of mahogany, and was bound from Dem- 
arara to Liverpool, where she belonged. The cargo was mostly 
landed from her, and many got the benefit of it. There were no 
wreck agents in those days, or rather every one appears to have been 
a self-constituted agent. It is even said that the Douglass was de- 
coyed on shore by false information that another boat expedition was 
coming to attack her, and this induced the prize-master to run her 
ashore as a choice of evils. Whether any measures were ever taken 
in regard to the prize property of the Douglass, does not appear. 



*A full account of the battle was published in The Inquirer and Mirror of October 11. 
1914, the centennial anniversary. 

1815. 

February 3d, a boat from the Vineyard, containing four men, was 
lost in the ice at the south side of the island, and three of the occu- 
pants perished, viz: Freeborn Fisher, James Nichols and John Thaxter. 
One man named Allen Coffin, and a dog, succeeded in reaching a farm 
house occupied by Obed Marshall, two miles from the shore, in an 
exhausted condition. When they had recovered somewhat, the dog 
was sent back to the shore that he might be of service, should any 
of the others chance to be alive. He returned after a while bringing 
an axe in his mouth. Two of the bodies (Freeborn Fisher's and John 
Thaxter's) were eventually recovered. 

April — , a brig, bound from Carolina to Portsmouth, with a car- 
go of cotton, was cast away on Tuckernuck ; the cargo was saved. 



24 

September — , schooner "America" came ashore; probably got 
off. 

October 28th, a sloop from Passamaquoddy, bound up North Riv- 
er, loaded with plaster, broke from her anchorage near the Bar, went 
ashore in the Chord of the Bay, and bilged. The sea was soon mak- 
ing a clean breach over her, exposing the crew to wet and cold. Two 
of them suffered to death, and a boy was washed overboard and lost. 
As soon as was practicable, a boat went out to her, took off the sur- 
vivors, four in number, who were in a suffering condition, and the two 
dead bodies, and brought them to town. It was a severe storm and 
much damage was done in this vicinity. At the south side of the isl- 
and the tide rose over the banks, in many places overflowing the land 
for some distance back. Mioxes valley was transformed into an ocean, 
the tide flowing up to within eighty rods of James M. Hosier's house, 
(the Obed Marshall farm, before mentioned, now owned by John H. 
Bartlett), and the water in the pond rose some five or six feet above 
the ordinary level. 

1816. 

December 16th, schooner "Susannah," Damon, with a cargo of 
potatoes and other vegetables, came ashore off Squam Pond and went 
to pieces. 

1817. 

June 15th, sloop "Mary," of Sag Harbor, Capt. Jonah Rogers, 
was wrecked on Nantucket Shoals. The crew were saved, but the 
vessel and cargo were totally lost. 

October 18th, brig "William Todd," of Liverpool, Nova Scotia, 
from Turk's Island, bound to Portland, with a cargo of 6000 barrels 
of salt, went ashore at the south side of the island, a little to the 
westward of Miacomet Pond. The vessel and cargo were sold for 
$300. She was subsequently stripped of sails, rigging, etc., and 
again sold for $190. 

October — , sloop "John," Capt. George Starbuck, was wrecked 
on the Black Flats. 

October — , whaleship "Ganges" of this port, just arrived from 
a whaling voyage to the Pacific, grounded on Long Shoal coming from 
Edgartown. She was gotten off with considerable diflSculty and an 
expense of $1200. 

1818. 

January 3d, a small vessel belonging at and for Westport, left 
here at 11 a. m. A gale coming on, she anchored near Cape Poge, 
parted her cable, came back and ran ashore on the opposite side of the 
harbor. 



25 

January 3d, sloop "Betsey," Capt. John C. Pinkham, from Bal- 
timore, anchored in the Chord of the Bay, went ashore and bilged. 
She was subsequently sold for $11. 

March 1st, a vessel from Baltimore, belonging to David Starbuck, 
of this place, became jammed in the ice, and was afterwards driven 
by the wind and ice onto the flats, where she remained for some time 
with her bow out of water at low tide. 

September 8th, ship "Francis" went aground on the Cliff Shoals. 

September 9th, two fishing schooners were driven ashore in the 
Chord of the Bay, in a gale. 

September 9th, a ship from Calcutta, bound to Boston, got on to 
Tuckernuck Shoal. They cut away one mast, when she drifted over 
and came to anchor without further damage. 

September 9th, a brig loaded with green fish, bound to Salem, got 
on to Little Round Shoal, lost one mast and set to leaking badly. 

November 11th, ship "Ark," (new) left here for Oldtown, with 
a fresh wind from the west. She got by Brant Point, upset, and drift- 
ed on to the Black Flats, where she lay about a week, with her keel 
six feet above water, her yards on bottom, and six feet of water in 
her hold. She was finally gotten to the wharf and hove out, when some 
of her timbers were found to be broken. 

December 20th, ship "Cicero," Edes, from Bombay to Boston, 
with an assorted cargo of indigo, cotton, block-tin, ginger root, wine, 
etc., valued at $150,000, grounded on Great Point Rip. Some boxes 
of tin were discharged to lighten her, but she still remained on the rip. 
Next morning they fired guns and set a signal of distress. Vessels and 
boats immediately went to their relief, but the wind soon after blew 
up, which prevented their taking much out, and a snow storm coming 
on, all hands left her at night, after setting the fore-stay-sail and 
lashing the helm to windward, to put her on shore, in case she came 
off the rip. The following morning the wind, which in the meantime 
had hauled to the eastward, blew a gale, and the ship drifted off and 
went driving to leeward with no one on board. She was boarded when 
abreast the Bar by parties from town, who let go both anchors and 
then left her. In letting go the anchors in a great hurry, the weather 
being very rugged, the cables were crossed, and one of them being of 
hemp soon chafed off. The other (a chain one) being insufficient to 
hold her, parted, and she drove on to Swile Island Shoal. Most of 
the cargo was taken out and shipped to Boston. The ship was finally 
gold with the remainder of her cargo (300 bales of cotton, some block- 
tin, etc.,) for $950, a great portion of which was saved, but the ves- 
sel laid her bones on the shoal. An attempt was made by the pur- 
chaser to get her off, with the intention of making her into a whaler, 



26 

but after spending the whole of his property in fruitless attempts, he 
was compelled to abandon her. She was owned by Israel Thomdike, 
of Boston, and though a loss to him, proved a great blessing to many 
of the poorer class of working men on this island. The "Cicero's" 
stern post remained projecting out of water for many years. Over 
thirty years later, a quantity cf block-tin was recovered from what re- 
mained of the wreck. 

1819. 

Ostober 10th, the mail packet, which left here for Falmouth, had 
proceeded as far as the Horse Shoe Shoal, wind S. S. E., when she 
was struck by a squall of wind, hail, thunder and lightning from the 
northward. The mast was struck by lightning and shivered to pieces, 
the bowsprit injured, and several on board knocked down and stunned. 
They let go the sails and run before the gale, expecting every moment 
to founder, but got back here all right. 

December — , schooner "Commodore Barney, " bound from Sa- 
vannah to Boston, with a cargo of cotton, etc., ran ashore at Great 
Point. She mistook the light for that of some vessel and steered for 
it until she struck. The crew and cargo were saved, but the vessel 
drifted off to sea in a gale and was probably lost. 

December — , a vessel from Connecticut, with a cargo of live 
sheep, cheese, butter, onions, etc., while lying at anchor near the 
Straight Wharf, was run into by ship Industry, of this port, which 
cut her in two at midnight. The weather was extremely cold and 
the men had barely time to reach the wharf in their night clothes, 
when their vessel sunk. The Industry, Capt.Amaziah Gardner, sailed 
from this port for Edgartown that morning, with a light breeze from 
the S. E., which soon worked up to a storm. When near Cape Poge, 
the wind shifted to N. W., and blew a gale. The ship was compelled 
to anchor near Round Shoal. The gale increasing with great violence, 
they cut both cables and sailed for Nantucket harbor, came in round 
Brant Point, and headed up for Straight Wharf. Capt. David Worth, 
who was pilot, intended to let her deaden her speed by running her 
way up the dock, but finding the passage blocked by both New Bed- 
ford packets, he run her into this vessel, which lay north and south at 
the same slip. Had the ship sunk in consequence of these two vessels 
blocking the way, their owners would have had to pay damage to the 
ship, but as it turned out, the owners of the ship had to pay for the 
Connecticut schooner and her cargo. 

1820. 

January 1st. [An old record to which the writer has had access 
states that on this day "seven vessels went ashore in a violent gale," 
but whether on this island or not does not appear.] 



27 

January 3d, a vessel loaded with wood drove on to the Bar. 
Fearing she would go to pieces, the crew took to their boat and land- 
ed safely. The vessel sunk inside the Bar and probably went to pieces. 

January 10th, a schooner, from the Bay of Mexico, bound to 
Boston, with 160 bales of cotton, was east ashore near Squam Head. 
The crew and cargo were saved, and the vessel was subsequently sold 
for $60. 

January — , a vessel supposed to be a large sloop, apparently de- 
serted, was seen near the "Old Man," at the southeast of the island. 
A vessel from town started to go in pursuit of her, but had to put 
back on account of the weather. The vessel probably went to pieces. 

February 7th, a vessel from New York, Silas Coleman master, 
arrived hack of Great Point in the ice, which prevented her coming in 
and finally forced her ashore. 

July — , ship "Atlas," Capt. Robert M. Joy, when rounding 
Brant Point, upset, leaving her keel out of water. She was towed 
in to the wharf, righted, and sailed again to fit at the Bar for the Pa- 
cific Ocean. Her try pots, bricks, etc., are now at the bottom, never 
having been recovered. 

1821. 

January 4th, English brig "Catharine," Anderson, bound from 
Montego Bay to Bermuda, which had been off the south side of the 
island in distress for several days, having lost three men by hardship 
and sickness on the coast, was run ashore at Siasconset. She had very 
little cargo, which consisted of a few hogsheads of rum, some casks 
of old copper, and $5,000 in specie. The vessel sold at auction for $77. 

January 7th, schooner "Deborah," Brewster, of Duxbury, from 
Fredericksburg to Boston, with a cargo of 850 barrels of flour, 40 of 
which were on deck, drove on to the shoals near Muskeget, hove over 
her deck load, but remained aground some time in the ice. 

September 3d, British schooner "William," Harris, from Jamai- 
ca to Halifax, in ballast, went ashore on the north side of Tuckernuck. 
The crew and passengers landed on the island, and the vessel was sold 
at auction. 

September 26th, schooner "Victory," Higgings, from St. An- 
drews to New York, loaded with lime, struck on Long Shoal and im- 
mediately sunk. The crew took to their boat, were picked up by a 
sloop, and landed on this island about noon. 

1822. 

May 2l8t, brig "St. Andrews," Kile, of and for St. Andrews, 
from Dominica, with a cargo of 20 puncheons of rum and some sugar, 
was run ashore near the lighthouse on Great Point in a thick fog; 
crew saved. 



28 

November 27th, brig "Adeline," Kempton, from Boston to St. 
Thomas, shipped a sea when near this island, which washed everything 
from her deck and carried overboard two men, who were lost. She 
lost boom, gaff, mainsail and boat, had her quarter stoven in, and put 
in here for repairs with three feet of water in her hold. 

December 3d, schooner "William & Nancy," of Gushing, in bal- 
last, was wrecked on the end of Pollock Rip. The crew took to their 
boat and reached Chatham next day. The vessel soon after drove off 
the rip and came ashore at the west end of the island in the afternoon, 
when she was boarded by Capt. Meltiah Fisher. Her fore-topsail and 
mainsail were set, the latter blown to pieces and the main boom bro- 
ken. She was stripped of sails, rigging, etc., and was eventually 
gotten off and brought into port December 18th. 

1823. 

January 6th, schooner "Solon, " Johnson, from Fredericksburg, 
Va., with a cargo of 750 barrels of flour, went ashore at Smith's 
Point in a heavy gale, but was gotten off next day after discharging 
about 250 barrels. 

January 11th, ship "Hesper, " which sailed from here the day 
before, was driven back by stress of weather, and went ashore near 
the Cliff. She was gotten off and sailed again February 21st. 

January 12th, schooner "Strong," Hutchins, from Porto Rico, 
with a cargo of coffee, sugar, hides, etc., broke from her anchorage 
in Vineyard Sound, and went aground on Tuckernuck Flats. She was 
gotten off the following morning, after being lightened of part of her 
cargo, and brought into this port with loss of bowsprit, cable, anchor, 
etc., and two men badly hurt. 

February 25th, brig "Holly," Allen, from Turk's Island to Bos- 
ton, partly in ballast, with some coffee, struck on South Shoal, but 
got off with loss of cable, anchor and rudder. The vessel being un- 
manageable, and the wind blowing a gale from the N. E. at the time, 
they were obliged to cut away the mainmast. On March 8th they 
made the island, hoisted a signal of distress and were boarded by a 
pilot from the south side, who took them in over the Bar. 

March 9th, sloop "Two Sisters," Hedge, left this port for Barn- 
stable, but got aground on Coatue and bilged. 

March 31st, schooner "Cashier," Humphreys, from Baltimore to 
this port, with an assorted cargo of 400 barrels of flour, copper, white 
lead, varnish, etc., went ashore on Tuckernuck. 

September 29th, sloop "Iris," of this port, Capt. George W. 
Luce, bound to East Haddam, was struck by a squall from the north- 
ward at 7 p. m., and upset. At the time Cape Poge lighthouse bore 



29 

S. S. E., two leagues distant. It being west tide, the vessel drifted 
down towards the cape. The captain and three men who were on 
deck at the time were taken off by a boat from a vessel near by, at 2 
o'clock the next morning. At 7 a. m., a boat from Edgartown took 
Capt. Luce from the vessel that had rescued him, proceeded to the 
wreck, which lay with only a small portion of her quarter above wa- 
ter, and rescued the captain's wife and one other woman from the after 
cabin by cutting a hole through a false window. One woman, named 
Eliza Cone, who was in the same cabin, had drowned before assistance 
reached them. A Methodist preacher named Crandall and one other 
man, who were in the forward cabin, were also rescued at the same 
time. The sloop was subsequently towed back to this port and re- 
paired. 

October — , schooner ' ' Samuel Tyler, ' ' Midger, went ashore at 
Eel Point. 

November 17th, brig "Reaper," from Matanzas to Middletown, 
Conn., with a cargo of molasses and sugar, drove ashore at the Cliff 
during the night. Her cargo was landed, and the vessel got off De- 
cember 12. 

December 17th, hermaphrodite brig "Cuba," Smith, from St. 
Thomas, W. I., to Boston, with a cargo of coffee and hides, went 
ashore at the west end of Tuckemuck, but got off two days later. 

1824. 

January 3d, schooner "William," Cole, (or Carver), put in here 
in distress, having been ashore on Muskeget. 

January — , schooner "Superb" went ashore on this island; was 
gotten off. 

February — , schooner "Culloden," Stitman, in distress off the 
south side, was boarded and brought in. 

August — , schooner "Phebe Ann" was picked up and towed into 
port. 

November 7th, schooner "Thetis," Cotton, from Monticello, Cu- 
ba, to New York, put in here in distress, having lost cable and anchor 
besides being considerably damaged in her hull by striking on the Bar 
coming in. 

December 19th, a schooner loaded with logwood, fustic, etc., 
went ashore at Great Point during the night, but got off next morning. 

1825. 
January 4th, brig "Pearl," Atkins, of Duxbury,"from the West 
Indies to Boston, with a cargo of molasses, coffee and hides, came 
ashore at Low Beach, about a mile to the west of Tom Never 's Head. 



30 

Her cargo was all saved in good order. The brig lay upright all win- 
ter, and in the spring was screwed up and launched. She was unin- 
jured and was carried to Boston. 

March 25th, ship "Globe," of this port, Capt. Reuben Swain, 2d, 
grounded on the Bar, on her passage out, and subsequently drove up 
high and dry on Brant Point. She remained there until the 29th, when 
she was gotten off, having sustained no damage. 

March 6th, ship "Improvement," from Edgartown, parted both 
cables during a gale, and went ashore near Eel Point. 

March 26th, sloop "Sally" went ashore high and dry at Capaum, 
but was gotten off April 1st. 

May 10th, brig "Diana," Stanton, from St. Thomas for this 
port, with a cargo of salt, struck on the Bar, bilged and sank. 

August 18th, sloop "Augusta," Tibbets, from Augusta, Me., 
with a load of lumber, went ashore at Great Point. The crew and 
passengers on board were saved, but the vessel bilged. 

November 2d, brig "Clio," of and for Saco, Me., from St. 
Eustatia, wtih a cargo of salt and sugar, went ashore near Tom Nev- 
c.t's Head and bilged. The sea made a clean breach over her, com- 
pelling the crew to seek safety in the rigging. A boy 17 years of 
age, who was sick in the cabin at the time, was drowned. The mate 
in attempting to reach the shore, narrowly escaped drowning. The 
crew remained in the rigging until the next morning, when the sand 
had so accumulated around the vessel that they were able to wade 
ashore. The following day, the body of the boy was taken ashore and 
buried. 

December — , sloop "Paragon," Lane, which had been aground, 
was brought in here and repaired. 

December 9th, a wood coaster, Capt. Snow, from Mattapoisett, in 
entering the harbor during the night, got ashore on Brant Point and 
bilged. 

December 13th, schooner "Susan," Thompson, of Bath, bound 
to Providence, with a load of lumber, having lost her mainmast, got 
ashore near the mouth of the harbor, and remained there until the 
16th, when she was gotten off and brought in for repairs. 

December 13th, sloop "Ranger," Small, from Portland to New- 
port, came ashore on the northwest side of Great Point and bilged. 
The cabin boy was drowned in attempting to reach the land. The re- 
mainder of the crew were saved in an exhausted condition. 

December 15th, sloop "Hudson," Clark, from Boston to Provi- 
dence, with an assorted cargo, came ashore near the "Ranger," but 
was gotten off and towed in here for repairs the following evening, 
with less of sails, rudder, etc., and leaking badly. 



31 

1826. 

October 24th, in the evening, sloop "Hector," Wade, from 
Bridgeport to Boston, with a cargo of com, rye, etc., was run down 
and sunk near Tuckernuck Shoal by schooner "Curlew," Blanchard, 
from Virginia to Boston, with a cargo of coal and tobacco. The crew 
of the sunken vessel took to their boat and landed on Tuckernuck. The 
"Curlew" lost masts, sails, etc., and was brought into the harbor a 
perfect wreck. She was repaired and left here December 8th. 

October 29th, schooner "Nelly," from Stonington for this port, 
broke from her moorings at the Bar in a gale, and drove up into the 
Chord of the Bay, where she stranded and bilged. Her cargo, consist- 
ing of cider, live stock, etc., was principally saved. 

November 28th, brig "Rapid," Rice, from Guadaloupe to Port- 
land, with a cargo of molasses, got ashore between Smith's Point and 
Tuckernuck. One man was lost. The cargo was chiefly saved, also 
sails, rigging, etc. The vessel became almost high and dry at low 
tide, but was eventually gotten off and repaired. 

, schooner "Urchin," with a cargo of 300 bales of cot- 
ton, came ashore at Squam Head. She remained there all winter, but 
was gotten off the following spring and made into a whaling brig. 

1827. 

January 22d, schooner "Nautilus" touched at the Southeast 
Quarter, the captain having mistaken his reckoning, but got off next 
day. 

May 8th, schooner "Sally," Staples, from Matanzas to Boston, 
struck on the South Shoal and lost her rudder, but beat over and came 
to anchor. Before proceeding, the captain took an observation, and 
found himself to be in latitude 41 degrees, 5 minutes. 

November 9th, brig "Francis Miller," Adams, from Middletown 
to St. Johns, N. B., with a cargo of mules, came ashore at Squam. 
The animals swam ashore, and the first intimation the people living 
in that vicinity had of the wreck was seeing them grazing in the pas- 
tures near by. One of the lighters, bound to the West Indies, with a 
portion of the stock on board, was lost on the passage. Schooner 
"Garland," also having on board part of the cargo, was totally lost 
near the mouth of the Kennebec river a short time afterwards. 

November 9th, schooner '"Independence," Hutchins, from Bos- 
ton to Bristol, went ashore near the "Francis Miller." 

November — , ship "Fame" drove on shore near Long Hill and 
bilged. She was afterwards gotten off. 

November — , sloop "Planet," Capt. Charles Alley, drove ashore 
near Long Hill, and was wrecked. 



32 

December 16th, sloop "Traveller," Hiller, from Falmouth for 
this port, with a cargo of oil, struck on the Bar and bilged. 

1828. 

March 23d, brig "Sarah Ann," from Savannah to Boston, with 
a cargo of rice and cotton, was stranded on the south side of the isl- 
and, near the head of the Hummock Pond. Her cargo was all dis- 
charged, and several unsuccessful attempts were made to get her off. 
She was driven far up towards the shore by the wind and surf, and 
was subsequently sold at auction, March 28th, to P. H. Folger and 
others, the hull bringing $127, and the spars, sails and rigging, 
$422.40. By a combination of fortunate circumstances, she was 
gotten off soon after the sale, brought into this port and fitted up, 
whereupon the owners claimed her on the ground that the captain had 
no right to sell the vessel for so small a sum. The matter being car- 
ried into court, it was shown by the defence that with the single ex- 
ception of brig " Rapid, " (November 28th, 1826) no vessel stranded 
on the south and west seaboard had been gotten off for twenty years. 
It was also shown that at the time of the sale the price paid for her 
was not considered low from the fact that the chances were against 
getting her off, and sereral who had attended the sale with the in- 
tention of bidding on her were unwilling to risk so much as was paid; 
and judgment was accordingly rendered in favor of the defendants. 

April — , schooner "Sally," with a cargo of corn, came ashore 
at Low Beach. 

July — , brig "John Harris," with a cargo of coal, was wrecked 
on Smith's Point. 

December 3d, sloop "Polly" left here with a load for ship 
"Ocean," of this port, then fitting at Edgartown for a whaling voy- 
age. She had gotten nearly to Cape Poge when the wind came out 
ahead and blew violently. She drove back, went ashore in the Chord 
of the Bay, and bilged, wetting the cargo, which, however, was saved 
with but little damage. A vessel was sent up harbor, inside of Coatue, 
and the cargo carted across land to her. The "Polly" was entirely 
lost. 

December 14th, brig "Packet," from St. Petersburg to Provi- 
dence, with a cargo of hemp and iron, was cast ashore at the south 
side of the island near Miacomet Pond, and immediately broke up. All 
on board, with the exception of the second mate (ten men) were 
drowned. He had gotten into the boat to cut her adrift, when a sea 
came and swept her clear from the vessel, carrying her ashore. As 
he gained the beach, he heard the masts fall and the cries of the men 
as they went down. It was very cold, and after travelling in the 
dark some distance, he discovered a light, which proved to be in the 



33 

lower part of "Newtown," where a woman had just died and they 
were laying her out. He told his pitiful story, but as the people 
were very much agitated and there was, moreover, no man in the 
house, they did not admit him, but he soon found a place where he 
was made comfortable. Human bones and limbs were picked up on 
the beach from time to time throughout the winter. Eight years 
later a bale of cloth, which had come ashore from the "Packet," was 
found bedded in the sand upon the beach, the outside of the bale being 
completely worn off, leaving the cloth cut up into small pieces, but 
otherwise uninjured, and it was folded in a napkin, made from this 
bale of cloth and carefully preserved as a memento, that the writer 
found the foregoing account. 

1829. 

February 11th, part of a schooner came ashore at the east end of 
the island in a storm. 

February 26th, brig "Ann Eliza," Capt. E. M. Ripley, of Top- 
sam. Me., from Palermo to Boston, with a cargo of wine, having lost 
her sails and been blown out of Boston Bay in a gale, drove ashore at 
the west end of the island, bilged and filled. One man was lost; the 
rest were saved, as was also the greater part of the cargo. At the 
time of the disaster, the "Ann Eliza" had on board the captain and 
mate of the French brig "L'Aimable," which vessel she had fallen 
in with at sea in a wrecked condition, and rescued her officers and 
crew, but the latter had left the vessel and swam ashore at Fayal. 

March 22d (Sunday), schooner "Ranger," Capt. Cornelius Was- 
gate, of Salem, loaded with spars and bound to New York, drove ashore 
at the east end of the island, near Squam Pond, in a furious snow 
storm. The captain and mate succeeded in reaching the shore, and 
coming across a rail fence, they followed it until they came to a shed. 
On entering they found the floor covered with hay, and they remained 
there quite comfortable until the storm abated, when they made their 
way to the "Edward Gary" farm, where they were kindly cared for. 
Three men who were on the forward part of the vessel were frozen to 
death before she struck, having become so numbed with cold as to be 
unable to reach the forecastle. The snow came down so thick that the 
captain and mate were unable to see the forward part of the vessel, 
but supposing the men had sought shelter in the forecastle they went 
down into the cabin, and left the vessel to her fate. 

March 22d, schooner "Ann," Capt. Reuben Mosman, of Thomas- 
ton, Me., bound to New York, with a cargo of lime, also drove ashore 
near the above. The captain and two men were saved; three men 
perished. Two of them were sons of the captain, who, when their 
strength gave out, carried them in his arms about a mile toward the 



34 

house he was in search of, but both expired before reaching it, and 
the father was only able to crawl the remaining distance upon his 
hands and knees. The bodies from both vessels (six in all) were 
brought to town the following Tuesday, and buried from the M. E. 
Church on Centre street. All the clergymen on the island took part 
in the duties of the occasion. The remains were placed, two in the 
hearse and two each in carts lengthened out for the occasion, and were 
followed to the grave by a long procession. The two schooners left 
Chatham on the morning of the day on which they were wrecked, in 
company with two others, belonging in Maine, and bound to New York. 
One of these also struck on the east shore of the island, but was soon 
carried off by a turn of tide and change of wind, and was afterwards 
seen dismasted, apparently full of water, with no signs of any one on 
board; she probably went to pieces on the rips, towards which she was 
drifting when last seen. From the course which the other schooner 
was steering when last seen, it was supposed that she went to pieces 
upon Bass Rip. 

April 2d, brig "Marshall Ney, " Crowell, from Boston to Balti- 
more, with a valuable cargo, struck on Handkerchief Shoal and bilged. 
She floated off next day and sank in five fathoms of water. Two of 
the crew were lost ; the remainder were rescued by a passing schooner. 
The vessel was subsequently raised and repaired. 

April 6th, ship "Pacific," Cartwright,from Boston to New York, 
struck on Great Point Rip, but was gotten off next day, without ma- 
terial damage. 

November — , part of a wrecked schooner came ashore at the east 
end of the island with no appearance of men on board. 

December — , schooner "Velocia," with a cargo of lime, went 
ashore in the Chord of the Bay. The cargo becoming wet, took fire, 
and the vessel was burned. 

1830. 

November 17th, brig "Georgiana," Fletcher, of and for Boston 
from Philadelphia, with a cargo of shot, sole leather and general mer- 
chandise, came ashore at the south side of the island, near the head of 
Hummock Pond, in a thick fog. The cargo was discharged and the 
vessel was gotten off and towed round into the harbor. 

November 26th, brig "Magnolia," Betts, from Richmond to 
Boston, with a cargo of flour, tobacco and coal, was stranded on the 
Bar, having lost both anchors under Great Point the previous night. 
The crew were saved and the vessel was subsequently towed into the 
wharf by steamer "Marco Bozzaris." 

December 6th, during the night, in a violent gale of wind, a 
schooner bound from New York to Boston, partly loaded with flour, 
drove ashore high and dry in the Chord of the Bay. 



35 

December 6th, a small sloop, with a cargo of potatoes, apples, 
cider and sheep, with no boat attached to her, and no one to be seen on 
board, also stranded in the Chord of the Bay, and went to pieces. The 
next morning part of a vessel, probably the sloop, was found on the 
northwest side of Coatue. The name was considerably mutilated, but 
appeared to be "Louisa of Phipsburgh." In the neighborhood of the 
wreck were found a few barrels of apples and about thirty dead sheep, 
together with a number of empty barrels and hogsheads. 

December 6th, brig "William & Henry," Emery, from Charles- 
ton, S. C, to Boston, with a cargo of cotton and rice, lost both anch- 
ors near Great Point, came in over the Bar next morning, and ground- 
ed on the Cliff Shoal, where she remained until 6 p. m., when she 
floated and was brought into the harbor. 

December 8th, a pink-stern schooner, of about 70 tons burthen, 
was found at the southwest side of Tuckemuck, with a full cargo on 
board, consisting of potatoes and other merchandise in barrels. On 
the larboard side, inboard and well abaft, the name "Amaranth" ap- 
peared, cut with a knife. 

December — , brig "Miles Standish," of Plymouth, with a cargo 
of iron, went ashore at Tuckernuck, and eventually went to pieces. 

1831. 

April 6th, schooner "Hannah & Mary," Alexander, from New 
York to Portland, went ashore on Great Point, having mistaken the 
light there for that of the lightboat on Tuckernuck Shoal. An unsuc- 
cessful attempt was made to get her off, and she finally went to pieces 
in a N. E. gale. 

October 26th, ship "Rose," of this port, Captain Obed Starbuck, 
bound on a whaling voyage to the Pacific Ocean, grounded on the Bar 
going out, and remained there until July 31st, 1832, when she was 
gotten off, brought back into the harbor, and refitted. 

December 12th, schooner "Packet," from Alexandria to Bangor, 
with a cargo of corn and flour, came ashore at Coskata,at the east end 
of the island and bilged. A portion of the cargo was saved, but the 
vessel went to pieces. 

December 20th, sloop "William Penn" drifted ashore at Coatue 
and remained there two weeks, when she was carried off by a moving 
body of ice. 

December 21st, sloop "Experiment," Capt. Charles Hayden, left 
here for Boston, but was never heard from. Supposed to have gone 
to^pieces on some of the shoals to the north of the island. A cask of 
oil known to have been on board was afterwards picked up. 



36 

1832. 

January 28th, brig "William & Henry, " Evans, from Turk's 
Island, with a cargo of 4,000 bushels of salt, ran ashore at Smith's 
Point, they having gotten out of their reckoning. When run ashore, 
the vessel and tackle were thickly covered with ice, and all hands ex- 
cept the captain were frost-bitten. The brig soon went to pieces and 
the cargo was lost. 

May 28th, ship "Washington," of this port, Capt. Barzillai 
Swain, arrived at the Bar from a whaling voyage in the Pacific. 
While discharging her cargo into a lighter, there came on a heavy 
northeast gale. The lighter was cast off and drove ashore with part 
of the cargo. The ship soon after parted both chain cables and drove 
on to tlie Bar near the Cliff, knocking off rudder and all her stern 
planks. She lay there all night and came on shore next morning with 
four feet of water in her hold. The cargo was saved from the lighter, 
and the ship was brought in and repaired. 

May 31st, brig "James McCoy," Sprague, of Wilmington, from 
the West Indies to Boston, with a cargo of molasses, sugar and coffee, 
ran ashore at the west end of Tuckernuck. Considerable of the cargo 
was saved, but the brig finally went to pieces. 

June — , schooner "Boston Packet" was stranded on the Bar and 
remained there several weeks, but was finally gotten off and brought 
in. . 

1833. 

February 23d, brig "Cashier,'' from Baltimore to Salem, with a 
cargo of flour, corn, etc., struck on Bass Rip and unhung her rudder, 
started pumps, etc. After throwing overboard 200 barrels of flour, 
some glass, India rubber shoes, etc., and discharging the remainder of 
her cargo into lighters, the vessel got off and put in here for repairs. 

May 28th, brig "Florida, " Norris, from Matanzas to Boston, 
with a cargo of molasses, sugar, coffee and honey, struck on Great 
Rip, off Sankaty, and sank. There was a heavy sea on at the time. 
The captain and eight men took to the long boat, and the two mates 
and a gentleman passenger to the yawl boat. The yawl soon upset 
and the men perished. At this time the long boat was half full of 
water, with the surge constantly breaking over her. After pulling for 
the shore, according to the best of their judgment, for several hours, 
they laid by until daylight, when it was found they had been rowing 
parallel with it. They landed at Low Beach about 9 o'clock. Lewis 
H. Wendell, a native of Stettin, Prussia, was one of the crew of the 
ill-fated vessel, and remained on the island until his death, nearly 50 
years later. 



37 

1834. 

February 26th, brig "Noma," Baker, from Havana to Boston, 
with a cargo of molasses, honey, sugar and cigars, struck on South 
Shoal. The crew were compelled to abandon her, and landed on No- 
man's Land three days later, having saved nothing but their clothes. 

March 21st, schooner "Gem," Longsley.from Philadelphia to St. 
Johns, N. B., with a cargo of rye flour, came ashore at the southwest 
side of the island during a squall and afterwards went to pieces. 

July 6th, schooner "Mary Adams," Pinkham, of Booth Bay, Me., 
from Philadelphia to Boston, with a cargo of coal, came ashore at 
Great Point during a thick fog. Probably got off. 

September 5th, sloop "Franklin, " went ashore at Brant Point 
during very heavy sqaulls, but was subsequently gotten off. 

October 13th, sloop "Rose," from this port, bound to Hartford, 
Conn., with a cargo of oil, while endeavoring to make the light of the 
Tuckernuck shoal lightboat (then drifted from her station) struck on 
Swile Island Shoal and filled with water. Her cargo was all saved, 
and several attempts were made to get the vessel off, but without 
avail, as she had bilged and become too deeply bedded in the sand. 

October 22d, schooner "Phebe Ann," from Philadelphia to Lu- 
bec, having mistaken Great Point light for that of the Tuckernuck 
Shoal lightboat, stranded on Great Point, but got off after remaining 
there two tides. 

October 23d, schooner "Talma,"' of Bristol, Me., from Boston 
to New York, drove from her moorings at the back of the Bar during 
a heavy gale, struck on the Bar and sank in two fathoms of water. 
The crew saved themselves in their yawl boat with some difficulty. 
A portion of the cargo, which consisted of 384 sticks of mahogany and 
68 tons of Swedish iron, was saved. 

October 23d, schooner "Brookville, " Merriam, from Gardiner, 
Me., to New Haven, with a cargo of lumber, also drove from her 
anchorage outside the Bar and grounded near the "Talma," where 
she bilged and filled. 

November 22d, brig "Ganges," Blake, from Havana to Portland, 
with a cargo of molasses and honey, went ashore near Smith's Point. 
The cargo was about all saved and brought to town, but the vessel 
drove almost up to high water mark, and went to pieces. 

1835. 

January 6th, schooner "Hyperon," Littlejohn, of Portland, from 
Philadelphia to Boston, with a cargo of coal, struck on Pollock Rip, 
lost rudder, cables and anchors, drifted ashore at Coatue, and bilged. 
The crew were taken off by schooner "April," which put into this 
port disabled. 



38 

February 27th, schooner "Volant," Grant, of Thomaston, Me., 
with a cargo of lime, broke from her moorings and went ashore at 
Great Point, after throwing overboard her deck load. She remained 
there until Sunday, March 8th, when she was gotten off and brought 
in to the wharf. 

March 23d, schooner "Wolga," Litchfield, from Wilmington, N. 
C, to Boston, with naval stores, went ashore near Great Point light- 
house, after losing three anchors. A part of her deck load, consist- 
ing of 130 barrels of rosin, was thrown overboard, and she was gotten 
off with loss of flying jib. 

March 25th, schooner "Mary Jane," Rogers, of and from Port- 
land to New York, came ashore near Great Point, but was finally got- 
ten off and arrived at the wharf April 9th. 

August 7th, brig "John," Gott, of and from Bangor to Provi- 
dence, with a cargo of lumber, struck on Great Point Rip in a violent 
storm from the northeast and bilged in about an hour. The most of 
the cargo was saved, but the vessel was a total loss. 

December 2d, schooner "Pomphret," Bray, of Calais, Me., from 
Philadelphia to Boston, with a cargo of coal, went ashore at Great 
Point about two miles south of the lighthouse. Attempts were made 
to reach her with lighters, but without avail, and she finally went to 
pieces. 

1836. 

February 5th, sloop "Reaper," Wellington, of Bristol, with a 
cargo of iron, came ashore at the southward of Siasconset. The great- 
er part of the cargo was saved, but the vessel went to pieces. 

April 13th, brig "William Smith," Safford, from Havana to 
Portland, got on to Great Point Rip, but was gotten off the following 
day. 

April 24th, schooner "Molly," Rogers, from the Kennebec River 
to Providence, with a cargo of lumber, struck on Great Point Rip and 
remained there until May 4th, when she was gotten off and towed into 
the harbor. Nearly all of her lumber was safely landed. 

May 26th, schooner "Eliza," Card, from Nova Scotia to New 
York, with a cargo of plaster, struck on Tuckernuck Shoal, beat over 
and sank in four fathoms of water. The crew landed at Edgartown 
and the vessel became a total loss. 

June 9th, brig "Granite," Gushing, from New Haven to Pictou, 
went ashore at Great Point, but got off the following evening. 

June 11th, British schooner "Pallender," from New York to St. 
Johns, with a cargo of flour and rice, went ashore at Smith's Point. 
The cargo was saved, but the vessel was a total loss. 



39 

October 14th, brig "Rising Sun," Morgan, of Salem, from Rich- 
mond to Boston, with a cargo of flour, meal, tobacco, etc., struck on 
Great Point Rip, carried away her foremast and main-topmast, bilged, 
drifted over the rip and anchored. On the 19th she was towed to the 
Bar, but being full of water, grounded. Most of the cargo was land- 
ed in a damaged condition and the vessel finally went to pieces. 

October 20th, schooner "Flor del Mar," from New Orleans to 
Boston, with a cargo of 90 bales of cotton, went ashore at Smith's 
Point. The cargo was saved and the hull, spars, etc., were sold at 
auction for $300. The vessel was subsequently screwed up, launched 
on the north side of Smith's Point and towed down by the steamer. 

November 25th, brig "Albion," Thomas, of Portland, from Ha- 
vana and Matanzas to Boston, with a cargo of molasses, sugar, etc., 
struck on Smith's Point, stove in her stern and sank. The crew land- 
ed at Chilmark, Marthas Vineyard, after being two days and three 
nights in their long boat, having saved nothing but what they stood 
in. 

December 26th, brig "Antares," Stacy, of Marblehead, from 
Aux Cayes to Boston, with a cargo of sugar, logwood and 1200 bags 
of coffee, struck several times near Muskeget Channel. The crew 
abandoned her and landed on Chappaquiddick. Thebrig was afterward 
boarded by a crew from Edgartown and carried into that port, little 
or no damage having been sustained by vessel or cargo. 

1837. 

January 15th, schooner "Mary Francis," Kirwan, from Freder- 
icksburg to Newburyport, arrived in the ice near Great Point, having 
put in for wood and water, but proving leaky, her cargo, consisting of 
500 barrels of flour and 1700 bushels of com, was discharged on the 
ice and removed to the shore. On the 25th she struck adrift, strand- 
ed on Great Point, and went to pieces. 

February 28th, brig "Mary Hart," Salter, of Portland, from 
Charleston, S. C, with a cargo of cotton and rice, went ashore at 
Smith's Point and broke in two. No lives were lost, although several 
of the crew and one gentleman passenger were severely frostbitten. 
A portion of the cargo was saved; the hull, spars, sails, rigging, etc., 
and the damaged part of the cargo were subsequently sold at auction. 

April 5th, schooner "Absalom," of Dennis, was found adrift on 
Tuckernuck Shoals, having probably driven out from some port on the 
Cape. She was brought in here and advertised. 

April 8th, brig "Ceylon," of Duxbury,Capt. Charles Soule, from 
St. Domingo to Boston, with an assorted cargo of coffee, hides, honey, 
mahogany, logwood, etc., went ashore at the south side of the island 
off the head of the Hummock Pond and bilged. The crew landed in 



40 

safety the next morning, after remaining in the tops all night. A 
portion of the cargo was saved in a damaged state. The "Ceylon" 
was a superior vessel of her class, and was insured for upwards of 
$11,000. There was also $30,000 insured on her cargo. She was 
subsequently screwed up and repaired, ways built under her, and she 
was launched the following June, made sail, and proceeded direct to 
Boston. The work of getting her off was carried on under the direc- 
tion of the late Frederick F. Swain, a man well known to most of our 
older citizens. 

May 27th, schooner "Amazon, " Bennett, from Philadelphia to 
Boston, with a cargo of coal, which had put in to this port on the 24th, 
grounded on one of the shoals near the Cliff shore on her passage out, 
and soon after filled. She was gotten off three days later, towed in 
and repaired. 

September 12th, schooner "Warsaw, " Harding, of Bucksport, 
Me., with a load of rough stone, foundered on Tuckernuck Shoal. The 
crew were taken off by a passing sloop and brought into this port. 
The vessel sank right in the track of passing vessels and remained 
there a long time, a source of anxiety to navigators. 

October 5th, schooner "Col. Crocket," from Lubec to Baltimore, 
struck on Great Rip, lost her rudder and sprang a leak ; got off and 
came to anchor off Siasconset. 

October 29th, schooner "William & Henry," Ulmer, from Thom- 
aston, Me., to New York, with a cargo of lime, having lost the head 
of her foremast in a gale the previous evening, anchored on Long 
Shoal, off Tuckernuck, and remained there until November 1st, when 
she was towed into port. In crossing the Bar, she struck heavily and 
sprang a l^ak, and on reaching the wharf, her cargo was found to be 
on fire. She was accordingly scuttled and sunk off the end of Com- 
mercial wharf, but was afterwards raised and repaired. 

November 15th, schooner "Elizabeth," Bourne, of and for this 
port, drove from her moorings at the Bar, stranded near the Cliff shore 
and bilged. The cargo was saved and the vessel got off and was 
brought into port on the 19th. 

December 18th, schooner "Beaver," Smith, partly loaded for 
Portland, drove from her anchorage near Brant Point and went ashore 
on the south side of the harbor, where she lay for some time high and 
dry, but was eventually gotten off. 

1838. 
January 5th, brig "Robert Wain," Mathews, from Philadelphia 
to Boston, with a cargo of corn and oats, went ashore at Great Point. 
A part of her cargo was discharged into lighters and the vessel was 
gotten off two days later, having sustained no material damage. 



41 

May 18th, schooner "Ariel," Hill, from Saco, Me., with a cargo 
of bricks and lumber, parted her cables in the sound during a heavy 
blow and drove on to the Bar, where she foundered and broke up. 
The crew took to the rigging and after suffering much from exposure, 
finally escaped in their boat and landed at the Cliff. The deck load 
of lumber drifted ashore and also some of the vessel's planks. 

June 18th, schooner "Golconda," Wentworth, of Charlestown, 
went ashore at Great Point in a gale and fog. The passengers and 
crew were saved, but the vessel, with the exception of sails, etc., was 
totally lost. 

July 8th, ship "Nathaniel Hooper," Capt. John Bogardus, struck 
on South Shoal. Her cargo between decks, consisting of boxes of 
sugar, was thrown overboard. The crew abandoned her at midnight 
with sails all up. At 1 o'clock a heavy squall came up from the 
northwest and she drifted off. Her helm being just right, she went 
off towards Boston. She was fallen in with by a smack which put two 
men aboard, and soon after spoken by another, which put three more 
aboard, and they succeeded, by continual pumping, in working her 
into Boston. Steamer "Massachusetts" and sloop "Copy" v/ent out 
next morning, but could of course find nothing of her. Empty boxes 
were seen floating on the water, the sugar having dissolved and the 
boxes come up to the surface. The captain proceeded to Boston to 
report the loss of the vessel, but was astonished to find her tied up 
alongside the wharf, all right. 

September 13th, schooner "Hoogley, " Vasseau, of Newburyport, 
from Alexandria to Boston, with a cargo of corn, rye and flour, which 
had anchored under Great Point, was driven ashore high and dry in a 
gale. Her cargo was discharged into lighters and the vessel went to 
pieces. 

November 3d, ship "Morea," Weston, with a cargo of flour and 
cordage, struck on South Shoal and unshipped her rudder, but got off 
after throwing overboard part of her cargo. 

November 10th, brig "Helen," Spear, from Boston to New York 
with a load of granite, having sprung a leak, was run ashore at Sia- 
sconset in a sinking condition and finally went to pieces. 

1839. 

January 15th, brig "Halcyon," Donnall, of and from Bath to 
Charleston, S. C, with a cargo of hay and bricks, struck on Great 
Point Rip, beat over during the night, went ashore on the Point and 
bilged. A portion of the cargo was saved; the vessel and the remain- 
der of the cargo were subsequently sold at auction. 

April 18th, schooner "Palestine," Macy, bound to St. Domingo, 
was struck by lightning and drove on to Swile Island Shoal. She was 
subsequently gotten off and towed into this port. 



42 

April 18th, schooner "Mary," Pendleton, of Bangor, from Thom- 
aston, with a cargo of lime, was struck by lightning, went ashore on 
Muskeget and burned. The above disasters occurred during a tempest 
of very short duration, there being but two flashes of lightning, each 
of which struck one of the vessels. 

May SOth, sloop "Union," Potter, of and for this port, from 
Baltimore, with a cargo of corn, flour, etc., grounded on coming in 
over the Bar and afterwards bilged, partially filling with water and 
damaging a portion of the cargo. A part of her cargo was taken out 
and landed and the vessel was towed into port June 4th. 

August SOth, brig "Nelson," of Eastport, with a cargo of coal, 
struck on Great Point Rip during a severe N. E. gale. The captain, 
with his wife and crew, landed on Great Point, and the vessel broke up 
immediately. 

August SOth, whaling schooner "Amazon," Pinkham, of this 
port, which had left here for a cruise, was driven from her moorings 
at the Cape and went ashore high and dry at the Cliff, but was subse- 
quently gotten off. 

August SOth, schooner "Penobscot," Thompson, of and for this 
port, from Bangor, with a load of lumber, in coming in over the Bar, 
struck heavily, sprang a leak and partly sank after reaching the dock, 
but was subsequently raised and repaired. 

August SOth, schooner "Lion," from Portland to this port, with 
a cargo of lumber, bricks and hay, drove from her anchorage back of 
the Bar, and bilged. The crew were taken off in a whale boat and 
the vessel finally stranded near Brant Point. The cargo was mostly 
saved, but the vessel went to pieces. 

December SOth, whaling brig "Dromo," Lawrence, of this port, 
in coming in from a cruise in the Atlantic Ocean, with 50 barrels of 
sperm oil on board, struck on the Bar, knocked off her rudder and 
drifted on to Coatue Flats. She was abandoned to the underwriters, 
who put a crew aboard, worked her in to the wharf and repaired her. 

1840. 

January 5th, schooner "Maine," went ashore at Great Point, but 
was subsequently gotten off. 

January 31st, brig "Emolument, " Pendleton, with a cargo of 
salt, spirits and hides, came ashore at Smith's Point. A portion of 
the cargo was taken out by lighters, but the vessel was broken up. 

March 5th, schooner "Mexico," Baymore, from Philadelphia, 
with a cargo of coal, in coming into the harbor, grounded on Coatue 
Flats and bilged. The coal was discharged into lighters, after which 
the vessel was gotten off and brought in to the wharf. 



43 

April 1st, in the evening, during one of the most severe tempests 
ever known here, schooner "Ellen, "Small, from Boston, with an assort- 
ed cargo in the hold and a quantity of iron hoops on deck, while wait- 
ing at the Bar for a favorable tide to come in, was struck by light- 
ning. The fluid descended one of the masts, and penetrated the space 
between decks, where a quantity of dry goods, furniture, etc., were 
stored, setting them on fire. The vessel having grounded on the Bar, 
remained for some time in a critical condition, but was at length 
forced over and brought into the dock early the next morning, with her 
cargo still on fire. The flames were finally quenched by the fire de- 
partment. The damage to the vessel was slight, compared with that 
to the cargo. Several other vessels lying at the Bar, were struck at 
the time, but sustained no injury. 

April — , fishing smack "Republican," of this port, Capt. Wal- 
ter Allen, dragged from her anchorge at the eastward of the island, 
and went ashore at Sesachacha. She was hauled off a few days later 
and taken in tow by steamer "Telegraph." In rounding Great Point, 
being water-logged, she rolled over and carried away her mast, but 
was brought in here and repaired. 

May 1st, smack "Wave," from New London, came ashore near 
the head of Miacomet Pond. When discovered, there was no one to be 
seen on board, but on going below, the dead body of a boy was found 
in one of the berths. The vessel was gotten off and used for fishing. 

May 3d, schooner "Triton," Kingston, with a cargo of coal and 
bricks, struck on the Bar, in entering this port, and bilged. The ves- 
sel eventually went to pieces. 

May 3d, smack "Federal," Fisher, struck an anchor on coming 
in to this port and sank ; she was subsequently raised and brought in. 

May 9th, schooner "John Keller," Mills, of and from Machias, 
Me., had her sails blown away during a gale, struck on the "Horse 
Shoe," bilged, beat over and stranded on Swile Island Shoal, where 
she finally broke up. 

May 28th, schooner "Margaret Jane," of Booth Bay, Me., from 
Porto Rico to Boston, with a cargo of molasses, went ashore at Great 
Point, but got off next tide, after staving 20 hogsheads of molasses. 

June 6th, schooner "Hope & Susan," Swain, of and for this port, 
from New Orleans, with a cargo of molasses, hides and sarsaparilla, 
struck on the Bar coming in and bilged. A portion of the cargo was 
saved in a damaged condition, and also the spars and rigging, but the 
hull was abandoned and broke up. 

July 17th, fishing schooner "May" ran ashore near Siasconset, but 
was gotten off on the evening of the 21st, with but trifling damage. 

August — , ship "Lexington," of this port, in tow of steamer 



44 

"Telegraph," for Edgartown, to fit for the Pacific Ocean, upset when 
rounding Brant Point. She was towed in here and righted that night, 
and left for Edgartown again on the 29th, all complete with topmasts 
housed. 

December 24th, brig "Henrietta," Parker, with a load of fish 
and lumber, from Lubec, Me., to New York, broke from her moorings 
near Tuckernuck and drove onto the Bar. She got off after throwing 
overboard part of her deck load of laths and arrived at the wharf with 
three feet of water in the hold, having knocked off her false keel. The 
cargo was discharged and the vessel repaired. 

1841. 

January 24th, brig "Jane," of and for Halifax, from New York, 
with a cargo of flour and coffee, struck on Great Point Rip, laid there 
some five hours, then got off, having sustained no material damage, 
other than knocking off her shoeing. 

April 24th, sloop "Only Daughter, " coming in from the Bar with 
the anchors of ship "Christopher Mitchell," upset in a squall and sank 
off Brant Point. 

April 24th, a large top-sail schooner foundered on Tuckernuck 
Shoal. A smack boarded her next day, but found no one on board. The 
hull was sunk four feet under water, the quarter deck off and hanging 
to the wreck, and apples floating about. 

May 20th, schooner "Ploughboy, " Putnam, of Boston, from New 
Haven to Bangor, went ashore at Great Point and went to pieces. 

September 16th, schooner "Fairplay," Parsons, from Lubec to 
New York, with a cargo of plaster, struck on the "Old Man," at 2 
o'clock in the morning. Their boat was swamped alongside, and the 
captain drowned. At 3 p. m. the Tessel drifted off and made for this 
port, leaking badly. They set a signal for assistance and were board- 
ed by a pilot at 7 o'clock. He advised beaching her and she was run 
ashore on Smith's Point, where she lay with five feet of water in her 
hold. The hull, sails, rigging and cargo were subsequently sold at 
auction for $30. 

During a severe gale, which commenced^on the evening of Octo- 
ber 2d and continued two days, the following disasters occurred along 
the shores, and in the vicinity of the island: 

Schooner "Harvest," of Harwich, bound from Norfolk to Boston, 
with a cargo of corn and flour, drove from her anchorage on the Cape 
shore with no one but the cook on board and stranded on Eel Point. 

Schooner "Pearl," of Chatham, with a cargo of fish, went ashore 
at the west end of the island, with no one on board. 

A schooner with stern torn off and name gone dragged from her 



45 

anchorage on the Cape shore and drove into Maddequet harbor, where 
her anchor held and prevented her going ashore. 

Schooner "Anson," of Chatham, with a cargo of fish, partially 
damaged, went ashore at the west end of the island. 

Schooner "Grecian, " of Hingham, with a cargo of mackerel; 
sloop "Patmos," Kelly, of Dennis, with no one but a boy on board; 
schooner "Mississippi," and one or two other vessels, went ashore on 
Tuckernuck. 

Schooners "Tremont, " of Dennis, "Olive," of Harwich, and one 
other vessel, went ashore on Muskeget. 

[All the aboTe vessels, with the exception of one on Muskeget, 
were eventually gotten off, with more or less damage to themselves or 
cargoes. The cargo of schooner "Grecian" was landed in good order, 
with the exception of 600 bushels of corn, which was damaged and 
sold at auction at from 33 to 40 cents per bushel.] 

Sloop "Platina, " with a cargo of fish, drove on to Half Moon 
Shoal, with no one on board and went to pieces. 

Schooner "Canary," Goodell, from Philadelphia to Boston, with 
a cargo of coal, was discovered on Swile Island Shoal, with both masts 
cut away and full of water. A part of the cargo was saved. 

Two schooners were sunk on Tuckernuck Shoal. One, the "Orb," 
of Kent, N. S., was loaded with plaster. The crew of this vessel 
landed on Tuckernuck. The other vessel was entirely deserted and the 
masts destitute of rigging. 

Fishing schooner "Minnie," with foremast cut away, was strand- 
ed on Brant Point. The crew landed safely and the vessel was sub- 
sequently gotten off. They had broken away from Georges Banks and 
driven before the gale under bare poles, being ignorant of their where- 
abouts until they brought up on the Point. The tides were very high 
and the vessel drove so far up that when she got off she was launched 
inside the Point. She is often spoken of as the only vessel which 
ever entered the harbor without coming round Brant Point. 

Schooner "Leo," Pendleton, of Thomaston, from New York to 
Boston, with a cargo of 600 barrels of flour, stranded on the north side 
of Coatue. Her cargo was brought to town to be re-shipped and the 
vessel was afterwards gotten off. 

Fishing schooner "Rolando," of Harwich, with no one on board, 
came ashore near the "Leo," but was eventually gotten off. 

The following disasters occurred to the shipping in this port : 

Ship "Rose," which was on the eve of departure for the Pacific 
Ocean, broke off part of the upper T of Commercial wharf, where she 
was fastened, and with it in tow drove on to the rocky foundation of 



46 

an old wharf at the South beach, where she bilged and received other 
serious dannage, but she was afterwards gotten off and repaired. 

Ship "Planter" broke away from the same wharf and drove far 
up on the beach ; she was gotten off with considerable difficulty. 

Schooner "Enterprise" and sloop "Henry" also drove on to the 
same beach, but were gotten off without material injury. The "En- 
terprise" went on stern foremost and drove her main boom through a 
window in the cooper's shop of the late John Elkins. 

Schooner "Azora," Lemont, of Bath, while lying at the South 
wharf, had square-sail blown away, stem stove in, and received other 
damage. 

Sloop ' ' Laura, ' ' at the same wharf, lost her bowsprit, and had 
rigging considerably damaged. Sloop "Nancy Finley" drove across 
dock and split her rudder. 

On the morning after the gale, nineteen vessels lay stranded on 
or near the island, while within sight of the shore, the masts of two 
others protruded from the water — such a sight as was never witnessed 
before or since upon the island. 

December 18th, schooner "Enterprise," from Boston to Balti- 
more, with a cargo of plaster and furniture, dragged both anchori, 
went ashore on the outside of Great Point and went to pieces. 

1842. 

April 17th, brig "Lion," Patterson, of and for Bowdoin, Me., 
with a cargo of molasses, went ashore at the west end of the island, 
in a thick fog, but was gotten off at noon next day, with the as- 
sistance of men from town, after staving a part of the cargo. 

November 1st, ship "Washington," Adams, of Newburyport, 
from Havana to Bremen (via Boston) with a cargo of sugar, struck on 
the "Old Man," but got off, leaking badly, took a pilot and proceed- 
ed to Boston. 

November 11th, schooner "Cincinnatus, " Whitmone, from Bos- 
ton to Philadelphia, with a cargo of molasses, in coming into this port 
struck on the Bar and was obliged to stave part of her deck load 
(about 57 hogsheads) when she got off and came into the wharf, hav- 
ing sustained but trifling damage. 

November 21st, whaleship "Ontario," Gibbs, of this port, from 
the Pacific Ocean, with 2100 barrels of sperm oil on board, struck on 
Tuckernuck Shoal, but got off next morning, after discharging 200 
barrels. 

November 27th, (Sunday) ship "Joseph Starbuck," left this port 
with a favorable breeze, in tow of steamer "Telegraph," for Edgar- 
town, where she was to load and proceed on a whaling voyage. There 



47 

were on board, in addition to the full complement of hands belonging 
to*her, a number of ladies, who were intending to accompany their 
friends to Edgartown, before taking final leave of them. The wind 
soon came out ahead and blew so strongly that the steamer could no 
longer make any headway. The towlines were then loosened, and the 
ship came to anchor within about a mile of the Tuckernuck Shoal 
lightboat, while the steamer returned to the wharf. In the afternoon 
the wind increased to a gale, and the ship, being light, rode so vio- 
lently that one chain cable after another parted, and she drove furi- 
ously from her moorings in an easterly direction. To prevent her go- 
ing to sea in her then unprepared condition, the mizzenmast was cut 
away, the foresail set, and every effort made to return to port; but so 
tremendously was the gale blowing from the N. W. that the attempt 
failed, and the ship drifted toward the eastern extremity of the Bar 
until midnight, when she struck and rolled over in the trough of the 
sea, the waves breaking over her frightfully and sending volumes of 
spray far above the mast-head. In this predicament, she was discov- 
ered from town at daybreak next morning, on her beam ends, her sin- 
gle sail still offering a mark for the hurricane, and her hulk, with its 
living freight, lifting and falling with crushing force. Of course it 
was immediately resolved in town to put forth every possible effort to 
save the lives of those on board, and before 9 o'clock steamer "Massa- 
chusetts," manned by a party of volunteers, was on her way to their 
relief. To many it seemed a hopeless adventure; the wreck lay about 
four miles from town and two miles from the nearest strand, while 
the sea upon the farther edge of the Bar where she lay and the vast 
extent of shoals near by, ran almost mountains high, now rising into 
columns of angry foam, and anon leaving the subjacent ground nearly 
bare of water. Nevertheless, the steamer plunged through the accum- 
ulated perils before her, and in half an hour was made fast to the lee 
side of the ill-fated vessel by a warp necessarily of considerable 
length. Her paddles were kept backing sufficiently to keep the line 
taut, and the people on board the ship, to the number of thirty-five, 
were taken off by means of a single whale boat, which passed to and 
fro no less than five times, transferred to the steamer, and returned to 
their friends in town, who had suffered the most intense anxiety. So 
excessively cold was the weather that the decks and rigging of the 
ship were coated with ice. The "Joseph Starbuck" was a beautiful 
and highly valued ship. She was built at Brant Point in 1838 of live 
oak, and was copper fastened, had made but one voyage and had now 
been fitted out for a second in the most liberal manner. The vessel 
alone was insured for $24,000. The ship eventually went to pieces, 
nothing of any material value being saved. 

December 28th, schooner "Fort Hill," Baker, of and from Wil- 



48 

mington, Del., for Boston, in entering this port, struck on the Bar 
and disabled her rudder. She was gotten off and brought in leaking. 

1843. 

March 6th, schooner "Maize," Pillsbury, from Thomaston to 
New Haven, with a cargo of lime, went ashore on the northeast part 
of Muskeget. The crew landed on Tuckernuck. 

March 15th, schooner "Mary Francis," Kempton, of this port, 
bound to Boston, grounded on the Bar going out, but got off next tide 
and returned to the harbor. She sailed again on the 23d, again ground- 
ed on the Bar and lay there until high water the next day, when she 
got off and anchored. The wind blew up, she parted one cable, slipped 
the other, and again went on to the Bar at 10 a. m. The crew came 
ashore in the afternoon, the sea breaking all over her at the time. 
They went aboard again in the evening and she got off. 

March 16th, schooner "Amazon," capsized and sunk alongside 
the Commercial wharf during a severe gale. 

March 16th, schooner "Minna" broke from her fastenings and 
went ashore on the beach and several other vessels tore from the 
wharves, but sustained little injury. 

March 23d, the wreck of a ship supposed to be the "Francis & 
Lovell" was fallen in with just west of Little Round Shoal, with top- 
masts just out of water. The vessel was sunk in five fathoms of 
water. She probably struck on the shoal on the 16th, and all on board 
perished. 

November 8th, brig "Halcyon, " Dean, from Pictou to Boston, 
with a load of coal, struck on Tuckernuck Shoal, sprang a leak, had 
some of her sails blown away, got off again, and in attempting to 
enter the harbor, grounded on the Bar, where she remained until the 
afternoon of the 10th, when, after throwing overboard part of her car- 
go to lighten her, she was towed in to the wharf by the steamer. 

November 27th, schooner " Curlew, " Gray, from Thomaston to 
New York, struck on the Bar, lost boat, jib, main boom and partly 
cut away her mainmast, and was obliged to throw overboard a part of 
her deck load, about 30 casks of lime. 

November 27th, schooner "Mary Francis," Kempton (before re- 
ferred to- — see March 15th) of Belfast, Me., from Bangor to New- 
port, with a cargo of lumber and potatoes, went ashore at the east end 
of the island near Squam during a snow squall. The vessel bilged and 
became a total wreck, but the cargo was saved, also the sails, rigging, 
anchors, etc. 

1844. 

January 5th, schooner "Mexico," Webber, of and from Salem to 
New York, with a cargo of palm oil, coffee, machinery, etc., struck 



49 

on the Bar and foundered. The cargo was saved in a damaged state, 
but the vessel was a total loss. 

January 23d, a large full-rigged brig drifted by the east end of 
the island, with sails furled, apparently abandoned. A heavy wind 
and rain prevented boarding her from the shore. Next day steamer 
"Telegraph" went in search of her, but failed to find her. 

January 27th, schooner "McDonough," Tucker, from New York 
to Eastport, with a cargo of beef, pork, lard, corn, flour, butter, etc., 
went ashore on Swile Island Shoal. The cargo was landed on Tuck- 
•rnuck and the vessel abandoned. She was subsequently gotten off and 
brought in here. 

January 27th, schooner "Mary Maria," Illmer, from Thomaston, 
Me., with a cargo of 950 barrels of lime, went ashore between Smith's 
Point and Muskeget, and was immediately abandoned by the crew. 
She was towed in here February 17th by steamer "Telegraph," after 
550 barrels of her cargo had been thrown overboard. 

January 27th, three-masted schooner "Richmond," Kilborn, of 
Salem, from Georgetown to Boston, with a cargo of flour and corn, 
was in the ice near Muskeget in distress, having lost cables and anch- 
ors and being out of salt provisions and fuel. On February 1st two 
anchors each, weighing about 2,000 pounds, were carried out to Eel 
Point and conveyed thence by sleds, on the ice, to Tuckernuck, to be 
got off to the vessel, if practicable, but the ice prevented. The next 
day the wind changed and the ice went off, carrying the vessel with 
it and leaving the captain and second mate ashore on Muskeget. The 
vessel had on board at the time eighteen men, eleven of whom were 
Nantucketers. She again got stuck in the ice off Cape Poge and was 
finally towed into Edgartown, February 8th, by steamer "Telegraph." 

[Several other vessels were in the ice around the island.] 

January 27th, brig "Voltaire," Bradbury, of Thomaston, from 
Savannah to Boston, with a cargo of rice, cotton and hides, went 
•shore on Muskeget, but was subsequently gotten off. 

February 15th, brig "Dove," Soley, struck on the Bar, started 
her stern post, and was run on to Coatue Flats to keep her from sink- 
ing. On the 17th she was hauled off by steamer "Telegraph" and 
towed to the wharf. 

March 14th, sloop "Portugal," Luce, from New Bedford to this 
port, came in over the Bar in a gale, ran aground on the Cliff Shoal, 
and bilged. The mail and passengers were landed safely, also her 
deck load of oil, sails, furniture, etc. The vessel lay there on the 
■hoal, with the tide ebbing and flowing in her, until the evening of 
the 16th, when she was hauled off by steamer "Telegraph," towed 
in to the wharf full of water and repaired. 



50 

March 24th, schooner "Exact," Folger, from Baltimore to this 
port, grounded on the Bar and filled with water. She was gotten off 
and brought in here on the 26th. 

October 7th, schooner "Cambridge," of Southport, from New 
York to Boston, while at anchor off Long Shoal, was completely dis- 
masted in a severe N. E. gale. She slipped her cables next day and 
was towed into Edgartown by steamer "Massachusetts." 

November 5th, ship "Thames," Billings, from Lubec to New 
York, with a cargo of plaster, at anchor off Tuckernuck Shoal, part- 
ed her cables in a gale and drove on to the Bar. She was abandoned 
by the crew, the sea at the time making a clean breach over her, but 
two days later, she was gotten off and brought into port. 

November 25th, sloop "Charles" from Boston to Wareham, with 
a load of provisions, sprang a leak in the sound, and in endeavoring to 
get into the harbor, struck on the Bar and bilged. She had three 
feet of water in her hold when she struck, and went to pieces that 
night. Her cargo was valued at $10,000. 

November 25th, schooner "Fairplay," Nixon, from Waquoit, 
with a load of wood, having sprung a leak, was run ashore on the 
outside of Coatue, and went to pieces. Capt. Samuel Winslow pur- 
chased the hull, sails and rigging for $7. 

November 27th, schooner "Caroline, " Hartley, from New York 
to Boston, loaded with flour and steamboat machinery, ran into schoon- 
er "Addison," Yates, bound from Bristol, Me., to a southern port, 
with a cargo of potatoes, on Tuckernuck Shoal and sank her. The crew 
of the "Addison" escaped to the "Caroline," which was run on shore 
to keep her from sinking. The vessel was a total loss, but her cargo 
was saved in a damaged condition. George W. Yates, pilot of the 
"Addison," perished on reaching the "Caroline." 

November 30th, schooner "Pelon" from Holmes Hole to Boston, 
mistook the light on the Tuckernuck Shoal lightboat for that on Point 
Gammon, and struck on the "Horse Shoe." The crew stayed by her 
until 8 o'clock the next morning, when, being unable to get her off and 
a storm threatening, they abandoned her and made for Hyannis. The 
wind afterwards shifted to the eastward and she drifted on to Edgar- 
town Flats. 

December 7th, schooner "Harriet," of Sullivan, Me., with a load 
of lumber, came ashore at the south side of the island, with no one on 
board. Her papers showed that she was owned in Wrentham and that 
the captain's name was James M. Blaisdell. Her cargo was saved 
and the vessel was sold at auction as she lay. She subsequently went 
to pieces. 

December 18th, schooner "Litchfield, " Mooers, from Cuba to 



51 

New York, with 150,000 oranges and 15,000 cocoanuts, went ashore 
at the south side of the island. Part of the cargo was saved, but the 
vessel went to pieces. 

1845. 

March 19th, schooner "Jasper," Rich, of Machias, Me., from 
Bangor to New York, with a cargo of laths, having lost cables and 
anchors, torn up decks, etc., in the sound the previous night, was run 
ashore in the Chord of the Bay, bilged and soon went to pieces. 

April 9th, British brig "Brittania," Capt. Dill, of Pictou, N.S., 
bound from Glasgow, Scotland, to New York, with a cargo of bricks, 
pig-iron, coal and dry goods, came down to the Bar for a pilot, beat 
over the outer Bar, after throwing overboard some bricks, and lay with 
the sea making a clean breach over her. Part of her cargo was dis- 
charged and she was brought in here the following Monday, when the 
remainder of her cargo was discharged and she was taken on to marine 
railways for repairs. 

May 8th, schooner "Enterprise" slipped her cables and in cross- 
ing the Bar, unhung her rudder and tore up her stern. 

May 8th, schooner "Silas Parker," in crossing the Bar, stove in 
her dead lights and filled her cabin with water. 

May 8th, sloop "Laura," with a load of oil from ship "Potom- 
ac," struck on the Bar and unhung her rudder, causing her to leak 
badly, but got off without further damage. 

May 16th, the wreck of a smack was seen to drift by Sankaty. 
It was thought that she must have struck on Great Point Rip in a 
gale and all hands perished. Various articles and parts of a vessel, 
probably belonging to the smack, were picked up between Great Point 
and Sankaty. 

May 16th, a schooner belonging at Blue Hill, bound from New 
York to Boston, with a cargo of coal, struck on Round Shoal in a gale. 
All the crew, with the exception of one man, were lost. He was tak- 
en off, after remaining on the topmast forty-live hours, by a schooner 
and carried to Sandy Point. 

July 8th, brig "Ocean," from Richmond to Sandwich, with a 
load of coal, struck on Great Point Rip, but got off again, after re- 
maining there some twelve hours. 

July 18th, ship "Centurion," of New Castle, Me., bound from 
New Orleans to Boston, with a cargo of cotton, hemp, corn, tobacco, 
hides and staves, was lost on the South Shoals. 

August 20th, brig "Lincoln" was stranded on Great Point Rip. 
She was purchased by Nantucket parties, gotten off and brought here. 

September 2d, sloop "Fame," Riddell, of and from this port to 



52 

Medford, with a load of empty casks, upset shortly after leaving here 
and sunk. 

October 15th, brig "Mariner," Staples, from Bangor to Provi- 
dence, with a cargo of lumber, struck on Tuckernuck Shoal, beat over 
and stranded on the Bar. The crew, six in number, were rescued 
with great difficulty by a party of twelve men, to whom the Massa- 
chusetts Humane Society awarded medals, the two leaders of the ex- 
pedition receiving gold and the others silver ones. One of the rescu- 
ing party, Capt. Meltiah Fisher, met an untimely death before the 
arrival of the medals. He was on his way to render assistance to a 
vessel in want of a pilot, when his boat foundered and he met a wat- 
ery grave. The "Mariner" was an old vessel and being water-logged 
by leaking, went to pieces. 

October 17th, schooner "Meridian," Stoddard, of and from Hal- 
lowell to Edgartown, loaded with provisions and ashes, struck on Tuck- 
ernuck Shoal, drifted over and sunk, leaving only the head of her 
masts out of water. The crew were taken from the masts some eight 
or ten hours afterwards, very much exhausted, by sloop "Laura," of 
this place. 

December 16th, schooner "Banner," of Harrington, Me., was 
dismasted and lost her deck load of lumber, while at anchor on Tuck- 
ernuck Shoal. 

1846. 

February 4th, schooner "Sophia," Conway, of and for Salem, 
from Para, with a cargo of hides, India rubber, madder, tapioca, etc., 
came ashore at the south side of the island, between the Hummock 
and Long Ponds. The cargo, with the exception of the hides, was 
about all saved. The vessel was purchased by John Cook and others 
and was gotten off under the direction of Frederick F. Swain. She 
was brought in here, fitted up and used for whaling. 

March 14th, ship "Earl of Eglington," Capt. John Niven, of 
Greenock, Scotland, from Liverpool to Boston, with a cargo of 300 
tons of salt, 100 tons of coal, 50 cases of copper and 50 bales of dry 
goods, struck on the South Shoal, let go her anchors, but drifted 
shoreward until 2 o'clock next morning (Sunday), when she struck on 
the "Old Man." As she began to leak badly, Capt. Niven beached 
her near Nobadeer Pond at 8 a.m., with six feet of water in her hold. 
The sea immediately made a clean breach over her. At this juncture 
two boats, each containing four men, put off from the ship. One of 
them upset when near the undertow and two of the occupants were 
drowned. The other two were rescued by parties from the shore, 
who rushed into the surf at the risk of their lives and seized them 
as the boat went over. Capt. Watson Burgess, one of the most ac- 



53 

tive of the rescuing party, was struck by the boat, knocked down and 
would have been drowned had it not been for the precaution taken 
previously of fastening round his waist a line, by means of which he 
was drawn ashore. The other boat upset on coming round the ship's 
stem and all the occupants were lost. A large number of people soon 
arrived from town and by means of pantomimic efforts, the people on 
board were induced to launch an oar, with a line attached. This came 
in shore as far as the first rollers, when, by means of a bluefish drail, 
skilfully thrown over the floating oar, it was hauled ashore. A larger 
rope was then attached to this and apiece of paper containing instruc- 
tions was carefully wrapped up in rope yarns to keep it dry and fas- 
tened on. This was then hauled on board the vessel, the directions 
noted, and in pursuance with them, a heavy rope cable was made fast 
to the timber heads on the forecastle, hauled taut and made fast 
to a stake in the beach. A sort of sling, capable of holding one man, 
was then improvised by suspending a pair of hames from a travelling- 
noose attached to the cable, and having a line fast at the ship and 
shore ends. By this means the remainder of the crew were safely 
landed. When the captain came ashore the noose gave way and he 
dropped into the sea, but fortunately he was near the beach and was 
rescued by those on shore. For three days the sea raged so high that 
no boat could approach the wreck. The ship and cargo were a total 
loss. She was a staunch vessel of 519 tons burthen and was but 
eighteen months old. The bodies of the second mate and three of the 
crew were washed ashore and were buried from the Baptist church, a 
large procession of citizens following them to the grave. 

July 1st, ship "Robert G. Shaw," Matthews, from New Orleans 
to Boston, with a cargo of cotton, corn and lard, came ashore on 
Smith's Point, but was gotten off after discharging about 200 bales 
of cotton. 

September 15th, brig "William," Tory, of Frankfort, M«., 
bound to Fall River with a cargo of coal, struck on Tuckernuck Shoal, 
got off, grounded off Capaum Pond and sunk. About 50 tons of coal 
were discharged and the vessel, with the remainder of her cargo, was 
sold for $107.50. She was subsequently raised and taken in by the 
"camels." 

October 22d, schooner "Charles Henry," Coombs, of Bucksport, 
Me., from Bangor to Providence, struck on Round Shoal. The crew, 
with the exception of the cook, who was hurt and drowned, were taken 
off by schooner "Sea Serpent," of Falmouth. The vessel was subse- 
quently gotten off by Capt. David G. Patterson and towed into Pow- 
der Hole, but was too badly broken up to be repaired. 

November 2l3t, brig "Old Colony," Walker, from Matanzas to 
Boston, with a cargo of sugar, struck on Pochick Rip. After letting 



54 

go an anchor, the crew took to their boat and landed at Siasconset. 
A boat's crew commanded by Capt. Charles H. Coleman and another 
by Valentine O. Holmes immediately put off and anchored as near as 
they could judge, in the vicinity of the vessel, in order to board her at 
daybreak, but when morning came they could discover nothing of her. 
In letting go the anchor, the crew failed to pay out cable enough and 
the vessel had lifted her anchor with the rise of the tide and drifted 
off. She was seen drifting about to the eastward of the island by ves- 
sels at various times for several days, but finally disappeared, having 
probably gone to pieces on some of the shoals. 

November 23d, schooner "Susan & Jane," Luffman, of Deer Isle, 
from Bangor to this port, with a load of lumber, anchored off the 
Bar in a gale. Both masts were cut away, and finally her cables were 
slipped and she drove over the Bar, went ashore on Brant Point and 
vvent to pieces. 

November 23d, schooner "Elizabeth," Piper, from Camden, was 
also anchored back of the Bar, leaking, with spars crippled and a 
signal of distress flying. She was boarded, at the imminent risk of 
their lives, by six men in a whaleboat, who took off the crew. 

1847. 

March 27th, schooner "Silivae," Ireland, of Egg Harbor, with a 
load of coal, came ashore at the west end of the island, near the head 
of Hummock Pond. She was gotten off by Frederick F. Swain and 
brought round into the harbor. [Mr. Swain, who has been several 
times referred to in connection with the getting off of stranded ves- 
sels, was a man of rare mechanical ability. In early manhood, he 
had the misfortune to lose one leg. This, however, proved no check 
to his activity and for many years he was instrumental in getting off 
nearly, if not quite, all the stranded vessels on the south side of the 
island which were gotten off. While at work on the "Silivae," he 
contracted a severe cold, which, together with overwork, brought on 
a fit of sickness, which resulted in his death.] 

September 10th, schooner "Rambler," Wilson, of Boston, from 
Franklin, Me., to New Bedford, loaded with lumber, came ashore on 
Great Point. She was subsequently gotten off and towed into the har- 
bor. 

November 8th, schooner "Dean," Powers, of Scituate, from St. 
Jago to Boston, came ashore on Great Point, but was subsequently got- 
ten off, having sustained but little damage. 

December 17th, ship "Louis Phillippe," of the New York and 
Havre packet line, bound from Havre to New York with 167 passen- 
gers on board and a cargo valued at $500,000, struck on Great Round 
Shoal, losing her rudder, floated and struck on Pochick Rip, came off 



55 

and drove ashore west of Tom Nevers Head. Steamer "Telegraph" 
went to her assistance that evening and lay by her all night. The 
next morning steamer Massachusetts was sent out and the two worked 
on her until the following morning, towing her to a point off Forked 
Pond, when it came on to blow, which obliged them to anchor her and 
run to port for their own safety, about twenty Nantucket men re- 
maining on board to help keep her free of water. Some forty of her 
passengers were taken ashore, the rest choosing to stay by her. Par- 
ties remained on the beach all night with two whaleboats in readiness 
to board her should she come ashore, which it was feared she would 
do, but she rode out the gale safely. A new rudder was made in 
town, taken out and placed in position and on the 20th the two steam- 
ers again took her in tow, via Muskeget channel, to Edgar town, where 
they arrived in thfe evening. The salvors received $31,000. 

December 28th, schooner Walcott, Ryder, from Boston to New 
York, struck on the "Old Man," got off and was run ashore at 
Low Beach. She was subsequently hauled off by steamer "Tele- 
graph." 

1848. 

February 1st, sloop "Portugal," (mail packet) Luce, from this 
port to New Bedford, vent ashore on the north side of the island, 
near the head of Long Pond in a gale, but was subsequently gotten off. 

August 19th, brig "Charlotte," Sherwood, of Portland, from 
Portsmouth to Philadelphia, in ballast, was thrown on her beam ends 
in a gale, let go both anchors, parted chains, beat over Tuckernuck 
Shoal and the Bar and finally got into the harbor, having lost anchors, 
chains, jib, trysail, false keel, etc. 

November 21st, schooner "Brutus," of Harwich, was fallen in 
with adrift off Siasconset by schooner "Mary & Emma" of this 
port and brought into the harbor. 

November 21st, schooner "Atlas," of Yarmouth, was boarded 
about twenty-five miles south of Sankaty, having lost rudder and part 
of stern. She was partly full of water and had driven to sea from 
Bass River the day before. 

1849. 
January 2d, brig "W. T. Dugan, " Kelley, from Boston to New 
York, in ballast, having anchored some ten miles off in the sound, 
parted one chain in a heavy blow, making it necessary to cut away 
the fore-mast and this, in falling, carried the main-mast with it, leav- 
ing the brig dismasted. She rode by one chain until noon the next 
day, when being considerably iced up, she parted that and put away 
for this port. She grounded on the Bar, and remained there several 
hours, but was gotten off at high tide and towed in to the wharf by 



56 

steamer "Massachusetts." The crew suffered considerably from the 
intense cold. 

January 10th, schooner "Abbott Lawrence," Allen, from New 
York to Boston, with an assorted cargo, while at anchor near Cross 
Rip, struck on the rip, when her cable was slipped, her masts cut 
away, and part of her cargo thrown overboard, after which she drift- 
ed over into deeper water, let go her small anchor and hung by it un- 
til the afternoon of the 12th, when she was taken in tow by a couple 
of schooners and carried into Holmes Hole. 

April 5th, ship "Colchis," Arthur, from Valparaiso to Boston, 
with a cargo of copper, ore, wool, hides, etc., valued at upwards of 
$150,000, struck on Fishing Rip Shoal. The crew took to their boats, 
intending to land on the island, but were picked up by a smack and 
carried into Edgartown. The ship was fallen in with next day by 
three New London smacks, who put a crew aboard, and she was taken 
into New London. They received about $25,000 salvage. 

October 13th, brig "Leolah," Morton, of New Castle, Me., from 
Philadelphia to Boston, with a cargo of coal, struck on Round Shoal 
and immediately bilged. The crew took to their boat and landed on 
Great Point. The wind blew very strong and the vessel probably 
went to pieces that night. The crew saved nothing but their boat, 
which was sold at auction for $20. 

October 29th, bark "Cornwallis," Newman, from New York to 
Sydney, Cape Breton, with a cargo of 550 bundles of hay, flour, etc., 
came ashore at the southwest side of the island, near the head of 
Long Pond. The wind blew very heavy from the southwest during the 
night, and the vessel drove far up on the beach. She was stripped 
and her cargo discharged, the hay coming most opportunely, as the 
farmers were all short. The vessel was hove off the 16th of Novem- 
ber. 

1850. 

January 10th, sloop "Triumph," Kelley, with a cargo of sperm 
oil from ship Nantucket, in coming over the Bar at sunset grounded 
and sprang a-leak. As she was filling rapidly the crew and one pass- 
enger abandoned her during the evening and landed at the Cliff. 

March 21st, schooner "Matty Maria," Perkins, of Bangor, bound 
to Charleston, S. C, with 800 casks of lime, went ashore in the Chord 
of the Bay. She sprung a leak, had four feet of water in the hold 
and her cargo took fire. She was stripped of sails, rigging, etc., and 
her hull sold at auction and broken up. 

March 21st, schooner "Dolphin," from St. Johns to New York, 
with a cargo of lumber, went ashore in the Chord of the Bay and 
bilged. Her cargo was discharged and the vessel went to pieces. 



57 

July 14th, schooner "Myrtle," Thompson, from New York to 
Halifax, with a cargo of flour, vinegar and candles, ran ashore on 
Smith's Point. The cargo was saved, but the vessel became a total 
wreck, and with the sails, rigging, anchors, etc., was sold at auction 
for $275. 

September 8th, schooner "Marinah," Bryant, from Boston to 
Philadelphia, in ballast, came ashore at the east side of the island in 
a severe S. E. storm and eventually went to pieces. 

September 8th, brig "Mary Perkins," Chase, from Pictou to 
Wareham, with a cargo of coal, went ashore on the flats at the north- 
east of Tuckernuck, but got off after throwing overboard 30 tons of 
her cargo and discharging the most of the remainder into lighters. 

September 9th, a dismasted schooner, supposed to have been load- 
ed with lime, was seen on fire about five miles N. E. of Sankaty. 
A boat was seen to go to her from a brig near by, and probably took 
off the crew. 

October 9th, schooner "Richmond," Kelley,with a cargo of coal, 
came ashore on the southwest side of Muskeget, but was gotten off on 
the 11th, after throwing overboard and discharging into lighters a 
quantity of her cargo. The damage to the vessel was slight. 

November 9th, schooner "Albion Cooper," Capt. A. W. Gibbs, 
of Pittston, Me., from Saguenay River, bound to New York, with a 
load of lumber, came ashore in a N. E. gale, near the end of Great 
Point, where she lay with the sea making a complete breach over her, 
preventing anyone from boarding or leaving her. The following day, 
the captain, his wife and one lady passenger landed and put up at the 
lighthouse. A portion of the lumber was discharged and the vessel 
was gotten off on the 15th. 

November 18th, schooner "Homer," Webb, of Bath, Me., from 
St. Mary's to Portland, with a cargo of timber and turpentine, came 
ashore on Smith's Point Island in a heavy gale. One seaman was 
washed overboard and drowned. The rest, with the assistance of 
people from Tuckernuck, got ashore safely. The vessel drove well up 
on the beach, but was subsequently screwed up, repaired and launched 
July 30th, 1851. She was towed into the harbor, altered into a brig 
and fitted out from here as a whaler. 

November 18th, schooner "Nantucket, " Pendleton, from New 
Haven to Bangor, came into the harbor and anchored during the gale, 
dragged ashore on the east side of the harbor and remained there until 
the 22d, when she was gotten off, having sustained no damage. 

November 19th, schooner "Eliza Hupper, " Robbins, of Machias, 
Me., from Philadelphia to Boston, drove ashore near Smith's Point 
Island in a gale. The crew were taken off late the next day, much 



58 

exhausted, after having been in the rigging thirty-six hours. An at- 
tempt had been made to reach them the day before by two boats from 
Tuckernuck, but without avail. The vessel went to pieces. 

November 19th, schooner "Clarissa," Griffin, from Stonington 
to Searsport, Me., in ballast, mistook the light on Great Point for 
that of the Tuckernuck Shoal lightboat and ran on to the end of the 
point. She remained there until the 22d,when she was gotten off and 
taken into the harbor. 

December 9th, ship "Jacob Perkins," from Manila to Boston, 
with a cargo of hemp, sugar and indigo, came ashore on Smith's Point 
Island. A portion of her cargo was discharged into steamer "R. B. 
Forbes," sent to her assistance; also spars, rigging, etc., and she 
was finally gotten off. 

December 12th, schooner "George Washington," Chase, from 
this port to Boston, with a cargo of oil and candles, grounded on the 
Bar, sprung a leak and nearly filled with water. She was freed by 
pumping and bailing and towed back into the harbor. Only a few 
boxes of candles were injured. 

1851. 

March 1st, British brig "Jane," Monagle, from Alexandria to 
Halifax, struck on Nantucket Shoals, broke her rudder irons, sprung 
a leak and was run on shore at the southeast side of the island with 
four feet of water in her hold. The cargo was saved in a damaged 
condition, but the vessel eventually went to pieces. 

May 22d, British brig "Alexander," Weatherhead, of New 
Castle, England, from New York to St. Johns, N. B., in ballast, came 
ashore at the south side of the island in a thick fog and remained 
there until the afternoon of the 26th, when she was gotten off. 

May 31st, ship "Jacob A. Westervelt, " Hoodless,from Liverpool 
to New York, with 800 passengers on board, grounded on the South 
Shoal and remained there until 10 o'clock that night. Steamer 
"Massachusetts" went to her assistance and put David G. Patterson 
on board as pilot, who got her out of her dangerous position and took 
her into New York. 

June 11th, brig "Isaac Carver," Curtis, of Searsport, Me., from 
Philadelphia to Boston, grounded on Tuckernuck Shoal and remained 
there until the following night, when she was hauled off at high wa- 
ter by steamer "Massachusetts." 

October 15th, brig "Corinth," from Cadiz to Beverly, with a 
cargo of 600 tons of salt, anchored off the east end of the island, 
having struck on some of the shoals and carried away her rudder. 
Steamer "Telegraph" towed her into Edgartown next day, leaking 
1000 strokes per hour. 



59 

November 27th, schooner "Vintage, " Bearse, from Boston to 
New York, with a cargo of plaster, slipped her cables, while at an- 
chor in the sound during a gale, ran in to this port and went ashore at 
the west side of the harbor. Part of her cargo was thrown overboard 
before reaching the Bar and the remainder after she went ashore. She 
was gotten off next day. 

December 1st, brig "Lucy Ellen," Smith, from Bangor to New 
Haven, with a load of lumber, struck on Great Point Rip during a 
gale, beat over and came ashore at the east end of the island. The 
vessel and cargo were a total loss. 

December 1st, schooner "Mary George," Gilchrist, from Thom- 
aston. Me., to Charleston, S. C., with a cargo of lime, dragged on to 
Tuckernuck Shoal and bilged. The captain, with his wife and crew 
of six men, took to their boat and landed on Great Point at night. 
The vessel was totally lost. 

December 1st, schooner "Alcanor," Hicks, from Bangor to New 
Haven, with a load of lumber, parted her chains in the sound and 
went ashore near Great Point light with loss of part of her deck load, 
but finally got off. 

December 15th, schooner "Wellington," Baker, of Yarmouth, 
from Albany, with a load of staves, broke from her anchorage near the 
Bar, ran on to the flats near Eel Point and bilged. Her deck load, 
about 6000 staves, was taken off by lighters, but the vessel was en- 
tirely swept away during a succession of heavy gales the following 
month. 

December 18th, English ship "British Queen," Conway, eight 
weeks from Dublin with 226 emigrants on board, struck on one of the 
rips near Muskeget. When first discovered she had fore and mizzen- 
masts cut away and a signal of distress flying. Attempts were made 
to board her that day, but it was too rough. The next morning steam- 
er "Telegraph," with two sloops in tow, went to her assistance. The 
sufferings of those on board the previous night were very severe and 
two died. The two sloops brought the crew and passengers to town, 
where they arrived late in the afternoon, sick and diseased from long 
confinement in a filthy steerage and presenting a picture of suffering 
and destitution, having lost everything but what they stood in. The 
room of Engine Company No. 8, Pantheon Hall and Sons of Temper- 
ance Hall were thrown open for the reception of the sufferers and every- 
thing was done by the Selectmen and citizens for their comfort. Food 
and clothing were generously contributed and all were kindly cared 
for — some in private families. Most of them left the island on the 
25th. Several remained here permanently, however, and their de- 
scendants still reside on the island. The hull and effects of the vessel 
were sold at auction for $290, but were entirely swept away during 
heavy gales about the middle of the following month. 



60 

1852. 

January 11th, brig "Macon," Watkins, from Savannah to Bos- 
ton, with 630 bales of cotton, struck on Pollock Rip, sprang a leak 
and anchored on the east side of the island, with a signal of distress 
flying. Eight men were put on board to assist in pumping her, pro- 
visions were sent her by the wreck agent and she proceeded on her 
voyage the next day. 

February 12th, ship "Shanunga," 546 tons, Patten, from New 
Orleans to Boston, with 1823 bales of cotton, came ashore near Tom 
Never's Head, in a thick fog. Most of her cargo was discharged, 
after which the ship was pumped out and several unsuccessful at- 
tempts were made to get her off. She was finally stripped and her 
hull sold at auction for $100. Laborers received $4.50 per day dis- 
charging cargo and for carting, $1.20 per bale— $2.40 per wet bale. 

March 3d, sloop "Tawtemeo," from New Bedford, broke her 
tiller, coming in over the Bar and grounded on Coatue Flats. Her 
cargo was discharged into lighters and she was gotten off. 

April 9th, schooner "Louisa," Stevens, of Plymouth, from Bal- 
timore to East Cambridge, with 80 tons of coal, went ashore on 
Tuckernuck Flats and filled with water. The crew landed on Tucker- 
nuck. The vessel split in two and went to pieces. 

May 30th, brig "Souther," Atkins, from Mobile to Boston, with 
a cargo of cotton, hides and staves, mistook Sankaty light for Gay 
Head and ran through Muskeget Channel, supposing it to be South Chan- 
nel. She grounded on Shovelful Shoal and remained there four hours. 
Steamer "Massachusetts" went to her assistance and put a pilot 
aboard, who took her to Boston. 

June 2d, ship "James W. Fannin," Norris, from Boston to 
New York, in ballast, struck on Great Point Rip, but got off at high 
water. 

August 4th, schooner "Union," Foster, of Danvers, from Phila- 
delphia to Boston, with a load of coal, went ashore on the south side 
of Smith's Point Island. Part of the cargo was saved and the vessel 
broken up. 

December 24th, bark "Forest Prince," Foster, from New Or- 
leans to Boston, with an assorted cargo of hides, tallow, beef, pork, 
lard, molasses, flour, corn, cotton, etc., came ashore at the south side 
of the island, at the head of Long Pond. The captain, supposing him- 
self some forty miles off shore, ran aground within 300 feet of the 
beach. The vessel stuck fast in the sand, bilged and eventually went 
to pieces. The cargo was about all saved. The bark was a new one 
of 350 tons burthen. 

December 29th, brig "Isabel," Bryant, from Machias, Me., to 



61 

New York, with a load of lumber, slipped her cables in the sound and 
went ashore on Great Point. Her deck load was thrown overboard 
and she was hauled off by steamer "Telegraph" and towed into the 
wharf January 3d. 

1853. 

March 1st, bark "Etiwan," Nelson, from Charleston, S. C, to 
Boston, with a cargo of rice and cotton, struck on Round Shoal, broke 
her rudder pintals, anchored between Tuckernuck Shoal and Great 
Point, and set a signal of distress. The steamer went to her assis- 
tance next day, and towed her into Edgartown. 

March 14th, schooner "Effort," Loring, of Yarmouth, Me., from 
Boston to Wilmington, Del., loaded with pig-iron, struck on one of 
the shoals off the east end of the island, causing her to leak badly. 
The captain ran her ashore at Squam, but the wind blowing off shore, 
she backed off and came to anchor. A pilot was put on board next 
morning, Tuesday, to bring her in, but she was run ashore again Wed- 
nesday. She was gotten off Thursday afternoon, after discharging 
some of the iron and arrived at the wharf Friday morning. 

March 17th, schooner "Rough and Ready," Ellenwood, from 
Eastport, Me., to Philadelphia, with a cargo of 400 barrels of fish 
and 50,000 laths, lost cables and anchors in the sound and beat over 
Tuckernuck Shoals, causing her to leak badly. She was boarded and 
brought into this port. 

July 28th, ship "England," Lachlan, of Liverpool, from Tralee, 
Ireland, to New York, with 600 tons of salt and 310 passengers, 
struck on Great Point Rip about one and one-half miles from shore, 
where she remained until the following evening, when she was hauled 
off by steamer "Telegraph," after throwing overboard about 150 tons 
of salt, and towed to the Bar. After procuring a supply of water, she 
left for New York on the 30th, in tow of steamer "Telegraph." 

October 3d, schooner "Billow," Fletcher, from Warren to Ban- 
gor, went ashore high and dry on the end of Great Point. She subse- 
quently fioated off in a storm, but soon grounded again and went to 
pieces. 

November 24th, schooner "Drinkwater, " Upton, of Salem, from 
Philadelphia to Boston, with a load of coal, lost cables and anchors in 
the sound and went ashore in the Chord of the Bay. 

November 24th, brig "Madison," Foster, from Philadelphia to 
Boston, with a cargo of coal, anchored near Tuckernuck Shoal, sprung 
a leak and sunk suddenly. The crew took to their boat and landed on 
Tuckernuck . 

November 24th, schooner "John Tunis," Spear, of Rockland, 



62 

Me., from New York to Gardiner, Me., with a cargo of 5000 bushels 
of wheat, was dismasted in the sound and, by the shifting of her car- 
go, filled and sunk. The crew landed at the Cliff during the night, 
having saved nothing but what they stood in. An unsuccessful attempt 
was subsequently made to raise the vessel. 

November 24th, schooner "Rebecca Fogg," Adams, of and for 
Boston, from Philadelphia, with a cargo of coal, struck on Tuckernuck 
Shoal. The crew landed at Eel Point the next afternoon. The vessel 
eventually went to pieces. 

December 16th, ship "Abby Pratt," of Barnstable, Capt.Bearse, 
from Calcutta to Boston, with a cargo of saltpetre, linseed, gunny 
bags, etc., valued at about $200,000, struck on the Old South Shoal 
about ten miles S. S. E. from Tom Never's Head. The captain and 
crew left her in two boats at 9 o'clock in the evening, with four feet 
of water in the hold, and landed at the wharf about noon the next day. 
Steamer "Telegraph" and several vessels went out to render her as- 
sistance, but could find nothing of her. She probably went to pieces 
in a gale the previous night, or beat over into deeper water and sank. 

December 23, bark "Vesta," Winslow, of Bath, Me., from Ha- 
vana to Boston, at anchor near Tuckernuck Shoal, parted one chain and 
cut away the mainmast. In the afternoon she was spoken by steamer 
"Massachusetts" the wind blowing violently and the sea very rough. 
The captain wished to be towed into this port, but as the bark drew 
eleven feet of water, it was impossible to do this. She hung on, how- 
ever, until Sunday morning, the 25th, when the steamer towed her 
into Edgar town. 

December 29th, schooner "Ida Mailler," Liscum,of Brookhaven, 
from Newport to Baltimore, capsized in a gals and partly filed with 
water, but righted again. She was seen off Siasconset January 5th, 
boarded by a boat's crew and afterwards taken in tow by steamer 
"Telegraph" and brought in to this port in the afternoon. The crew 
had suffered very much during the gale and one man, a German, was 
lost when the vessel capsized. Another was in the hold, but succeeded 
in reaching the deck through the forecastle gangway. 

1854. 
February 27th, brig "Byzantium," Coleman, of this port, from 
Wilmington, N. C, to Boston, with naval stores, struck on New 
South Shoal, drifted off again and sank. The crew took to their boat 
and landed at Siasconset the next morning, chilled and exhausted. 
Schooners "W. P. Dolliver" and "Game Cock" went out in search 
of her and found her some eight miles south of the shoals, full of wa- 
ter. They cut away one mast, which, in falling, broke off the other, 
took out 100 barrels of spirits of turpentine and 200 barrels of pitch, 



63 

saved one anchor, the most of the sails, rigging, etc., towed the ves- 
sel to within three miles of Siasconset, and anchored her. She was 
subsequently towed to the Bar, pumped out, brought in to the harbor 
and the remainder of her cargo taken out. 

September 10th, schooner "Glenroy, " from Gardiner, Me., to 
Fall River, with a cargo of lumber, struck on Bass Rip during a gale, 
but got off again, anchored off Siasconset and cut away her masts to 
prevent her going ashore. Next day, she was taken in tow by steam- 
er "Nebraska," but struck on the Inner Bar coming in. Her deck 
load was rafted the following day and she was towed in to the harbor 
in the evening. About 40,000 shingles were lost off her deck. 

1855. 

March 13th, a vessel which afterwards proved to be the "Silver 
Cloud," of Brooksville, Me., was discovered capsized near Great 
Point by steamer "Nebraska," but it was so rough she was unable to 
make fast to her. Soon after the steamer left her, she drifted into 
the sound and was picked up next day by schooner "Hamilton" of this 
place and towed to the Bar. Her hatches were off and she had about 
300 barrels of flour, corn, etc., in the hold. Nothing was known in 
reference to the crew. She was afterwards towed in and anchored 
near the marine railways. 

March 15th, brig "Robert Reed," of and for St. Johns, N. B., 
from Matanzas, with a cargo of molasses, mistook Sankaty light for 
Gay Head, and went ashore at Tom Never's Head. She was gotten 
off on the 19th, and towed round into the harbor for repairs. 

April 10th, brig "Boston," Upton, from Surinam to Salem, with 
a cargo of sugar and molasses, mistook Sankaty light for Gay Head, 
ran ashore near the head of Long Pond, bilged and went to pieces in 
a gale the next day. The crew landed safely and some of the sails 
were saved. The captain also saved some $6,000 or $7,000 in specie 
that he had on board. 

July 17th, bark "Prescott," of Boston with a cargo of hides 
and wool, got aground on Rock Rip near Muskeget. A vessel from 
Edgartown went to her assistance. A pilot from Nantucket was put 
aboard and in the afternoon the vessel got off, with shoeing knocked 
off and bottom injured. She was towed into Edgartown. 

August 26th, a brig grounded on Great Point but got off again 
after throwing overboard her deck load. 

August 30th, schooner "Cordelia," of Ellsworth, Me., with a 
cargo of coal, went ashore on the north side of Tuckernuck and bilged. 
The vessel was sold to Daniel T. Dunham for $450 and an arrange- 
ment was made with him whereby he should have one-half of all the 
coal he saved. The vessel was subsequently gotten off and an attempt 



64 

made to bring her into this port, but she struck on the Bar and went 
to pieces. Only a small part of the cargo was saved. 

October 31st, ship "Gossamer, " Groudy, of Newcastle, Me., 
grounded on Round shoal early in the morning, but got off at 4 o'clock 
in the afternoon. Steamer "Island Home" went to her, but her assis- 
tance was not needed. 

December 24th, ship "Timor," of and for Boston, from New 
Orleans, with a valuable cargo on board, was discovered from Sia- 
sconset, beyond Bass Rip, with a signal of distress flying. It being 
impossible to reach her in boats, steamer "Island Home" was sent to 
her assistance immediately on her arrival in the afternoon and found 
her with four feet of water in the hold, having struck on Great Rip 
and sprung a leak. She was towed into Edgartown and eventually to 
Boston. 

1856. 

January 19th, schooner "George Washington," with a cargo of 
oil, candles, furniture, etc., left this port for Boston, but was com- 
pelled to put back on account of head wind when a few miles from the 
Bar. In coming in she struck on the Bar, went ashore near the Cliff 
and filled with water. She was gotten off the next forenoon, brought 
in to the wharf and her cargo discharged. 

February 11th, schooner "Mary C. Ames," Bayley, from Ponce, 
Porto Rico, to Boston, with a cargo of sugar, molasses and fruit, 
came ashore at the south side of the island near the head of Miacomet 
Pond. For twenty-five days previous to the accident the vessel had 
leaked about 2000 strokes per hour and the night previous had drifted 
considerably while lying to, which deceived them in regard to their 
position. They also mistook Sankaty Light for Gay Head. The cargo 
was discharged in good order and the vessel sold at auction for $370. 
An attempt was made to float her in the early part of April, which 
had nearly proved successful, when the vessel bilged and had to be 
abandoned. 

February 11th, schooner "Cyclone," Newman, from Darien.Ga., 
to Boston, with a load of yellow pine lumber, also came ashore near 
the above. The vessel and cargo were sold at auction for $1,350. 
About all the cargo was saved and nearly six weeks later the vessel 
was gotten off, towed into the harbor and sold again for $2,950. The 
howitzers of the Humane Society were tested in attaching lines to 
both the above vessels, although communication had already been es- 
tablished. 

March 15th, brig "Venus," Wilson, from Chesapeake Bay to 
Boston, loaded with ship timber, mistook Sankaty Light for Gay Head 
and went ashore on the southwest side of the island near the head of 



65 

Long Pond, making the third vessel wrecked on the south side, within 
a little over a month, by mistaking the above lights. Her cargo was 
saved and sold at auction and the vessel was subsequently gotten off. 

April 16th, schooner "Sarah Moore" came ashore on Great Point, 
but was finally gotten off and arrived at the wharf on the 22d. 

October 19th, schooner "Persia," from Windsor, N. S., to New 
York, with a cargo of plaster, struck on Tuckernuck Shoal. She was 
hauled off the following afternoon by steamer "Island Home," after 
throwing overboard part of her cargo. 

October 28th, schooner "Splendid," of New London, Capt. John 
Seeley, went to pieces on Tuckernuck Shoal. The captain was washed 
overboard and lost, but the others were saved. The body of Capt. 
Seeley was picked up at Siasconset on November 17th. 

November 30th, schooner "Sarah," Allen, from Calais, Me., to 
New York, with 40,000 feet of lumber on board, parted her chains in 
the sound and went ashore in the Chord of the Bay. The cargo was 
landed on the beach. During a gale on the 25th, the vessel bilged 
and lost both masts. 

December 15th, brig "Brazilian," of Salem, from Philadelphia 
to Boston, with a cargo of 250 tons of coal, went ashore on the north 
side of Muskeget in a gale. The vessel went to pieces in a gale on 
the 23d. 

1857. 

January 21st, during a protracted "freeze-up, " steamship "New 
York," from Glasgow to New York, anchored off Quidnet flying sig- 
nals for assistance. She was boarded by a whale-boat and found to 
be short of coal in consequence of a long and stormy passage. She 
brought the first news received here from the mainland since January 
5th, it having reached Europe before her departure. No opportunity 
presenting to coal her there, she was taken and anchored round off 
Siasconset, on the 24th. Sixty-three men were engaged four days 
carting coal from town to the beach at 'Sconset. It was then put in 
bags and taken off in boats. Two hundred and twenty loads, a total 
of 115 tons, were thus transported. 'Sconset road was badly blocked 
with snow and it was estimated that 1000 tons had to be removed to 
allow the coal teams to pass. 

January 23d, schooner "Conanchet," Burgess, of and from Ply- 
mouth, to New York, with 1250 quintals of fish, became entangled in 
the ice on Tuckernuck Shoals and as she was leaking badly the cap- 
tain decided to abandon her. They had only a bucket of fresh water 
on board and no provisions. Having no boat they provided themselves 
with boards and left the vessel at 8 a. m. They laid the boards on 
the ice and crawled on them and in this way reached Great Point at 



66 

1 o'clock, with the thermometer 11 degrees below zero, and not one 
of them frost-bitten. They came to town the next day and a sub- 
scription was taken up for them, as they were entirely destitute. They 
left for New York on the 27th. The "Conanchet" was afterwards 
seen for several days drifting about in the vicinity of the South Shoal 
lightship with sails blown away and hanging in pieces over the sides. 

January 25th, ship "Bowditch," Smith, of and for Boston, from 
New Orleans, with a cargo of cotton and hides, struck on Miacomet 
Rip, but got off the next day and anchored, waiting for the ice to 
clear. She was boarded that day by parties from here and the cap- 
tain brought ashore. In attempting to reach the ship at night, for 
the purpose of putting him on board, the boat became wedged in the 
ice and was carried some three miles with the tide. After considera- 
ble exertion, they managed to work the boat through the ice in the 
wake of the ship and got on board at dark, remaining there until the 
night of the 28th. 

June 1st, steamship "City of New York," Howes, from Phila- 
delphia to Boston, with a cargo of flour, corn and assorted merchan- 
dise, struck on Rose and Crown Shoal, Great Rip, in a thick fog. Im- 
mediately after striking, the engine became useless. Efforts were 
made to get her off by throwing the cargo overboard, but without 
avail. The crew took to their boats about 8 o'clock the following 
evening, at which time she had five feet of water in the hold, was 
thumping heavily and considerably strained. They were picked up the 
next morning by a smack and brought into this port, arriving about 
noon. The "Island Home" started at 3 o'clock to render her assis- 
tance, but on arriving out, found she had been gotten off by a Dennis 
vessel, which had put part of her crew on board, pumped her out, 
thrown overboard the remainder of her cargo, floated her off, and 
towed her into Dennis. The "Island Home" returned at 11 p. m., 
having picked up 8 barrels of flour and a case of morocco. 

June 1st, bark "Gen. Taylor," Adams, from Philadelphia to 
Portland, with a cargo of coal, went ashore at the southwest side of 
the island, near the head of Hither Creek, in a thick fog. There be- 
ing a heavy surf at the time, the crew were unable to land there in 
their boats, but passed round Smith's Point and landed on Tucker- 
nuck, arriving in town about 3 o'clock the next afternoon. The cargo 
was landed and brought $4 per ton. The vessel was sold for $930, 
and an unsuccessful attempt was made to get her off. She was after- 
wards sold at auction for $225. 

June 2l3t, British brig "Hannah Hicks," from Philadelphia to 
St. Johns, with a cargo of coal and flour, went ashore on the west 
side of Muskeget. She got off without damage after throwing over- 



67 

board part of her cargo, but afterwards went ashore on North Rip and 
went to pieces. 

July 8th, schooner "Transit," Davis, from Laguna to Hamburg, 
struck on Round Shoal in a fog, sprang a leak and put into Boston in 
distress. 

October 15th, bark "John Swasey," of and for Salem, from the 
coast of Africa, with a cargo of palm oil, coffee and ivory, came 
ashore at the southwest side of the island near the head of Long Pond. 
She lay well up on the beach with her bowsprit over the land and her 
cargo was landed safely, but all attempts to get the vessel off were 
abandoned and she was sold to parties in town for $165. She was 
three years old and about 300 tons burthen. 

1858. 

February 2, bark "N. G. Hichborn," Capt. Ellis, from Matan- 
zas to Portland, with a cargo of molasses, came ashore at the south 
side of the island, near the Weeweeder Pond, in a heavy S. E. gale. 
There was a tremendous surf running, which at one time made a clean 
breach over her and the vessel commenced breaking up. As soon as 
the people got there from town a line was made fast to a spar and 
floated ashore. To this line a hawser was attached, drawn ashore and 
made fast. A pair of hames were then arranged on the hawser so as 
to be drawn back and forth by means of a small line and the crew 
were thus drawn ashore, one at a time. A little boy four or five 
years old who was on board was lashed to the shoulders of one of the 
sailors and both drawn ashore in safety. The vessel was a fine one, 
four years old. By observation taken the previous day, the captain 
thought himself 30 miles to the eastward of the island. The whole 
cargo was eventually landed, with the exception of two hogsheads 
of molassses, which had become too deeply bedded in the sand. The 
hull of the vessel was subsequently sold for $100. 

March 13th, schooner "I. & P. Chase," Snow, with a load of 
mackerel, came ashore on the outside of Great Point, in a northeast 
snowstorm and bilged. The crew landed safely and were taken care 
of at the lighthouse. Her cargo was all discharged and the vessel 
was eventually floated off by means of empty casks and towed into the 
harbor by steamer "Island Home." 

August 11th, brig "John Shaw," Wallace, from Savannah to 
Portsmouth, loaded with yellow pine lumber, went ashore on Muske- 
get. She was boarded by a boat's crew from Tuckernuck and the 
crew taken off. 

December 9th, brig "Castilian," Maverick, of Portland, from 
Havana to Boston, with a cargo of sugar and cigars, went aground on 
Muskeget Shoals. She was boarded by a boat's crew from Tucker- 



68 

nuck. Her cargo was discharged into lighters and the vessel hauled 
off by steamer "Island Home" on the 17th, taken to the railways, 
repaired and launched January 5th. She took in her cargo and left 
for Boston the following Sunday, January 9th. In going out, she 
grounded on the Bar, but got off after discharging 50 boxes of sugar, 
and returned to the wharf the next day. On the 14th, she was towed 
over the Bar in safety. 

December 18th, brig "Edward," loaded with lumber, from Cal- 
ais, Me., went ashore near Tuckernuck and bilged. Steamers Island 
Home and Eagle's Wing floated her. 

1859. 

January 2d, sloop "Escort," which sailed from here with a quan- 
tity of lumber taken from brig "Edward," (before reported ashore on 
Tuckernuck) grounded on some of the flats, going out, and in a storm 
two days later went ashore high and dry on Brant Point. She was 
subsequently gotten off. 

March 23d, ship "Shooting Star," (new) Hotchkiss, from Ports- 
mouth, N. H., to New York, in tow of steamer "W. H. Webb," 
struck on Tuckernuck Shoal at 5 o'clock in the morning, in a thick 
fog. The anchors were let go, the ship headed to the wind and struck 
on one of them, knocked a hole in her bottom and sunk. 

March 30th, schooner "Sarah," Eaton, from St. Johns, N. B., 
to Providence, with a load of laths, came to anchor in the evening 
about two miles E. by S. of the Cross Rip lightboat. During the 
night, the wind increased to a gale and at 4 o'clock the next morning 
she was cut down forward, tore out her windlass and parted her chain. 
After beating about all the forenoon she struck on the Bar and bilged. 
She was boarded by a boat's crew from town, who with great difficul- 
ty and at the imminent risk of their lives, as the sea was making a 
clean sweep over her, took off the captain, his wife and crew. 

March 31st, schooner "Susan and Mary," Whittemore, from 
Calais, Me., to Norfolk, Va., with a cargo of laths and plaster, came 
to anchor near the buoy on Tuckernuck Shoal. During the gale next 
morning, she tore out hawse pipe and was cut down forward. She 
was compelled to slip her cable, struck on the Bar, lost her rudder, 
and went aground on the flats near Coatue. She was boarded by two 
boats from the shore and her crew taken off. The vessel finally went 
to pieces. 

March Slst, schooner "Hartford," Teague, of Bangor, Me., from 
Boston to South Carolina, with a cargo of lime and furniture, came to 
anchor off Tuckernuck Shoal. During the gale next day, she lost her 
large anchor, was compelled to slip the other at about 10 a. m., and 
went ashore in the Chord of the Bay about 11. The crew landed safely. 



69 

August 5th, schooner "Republic," Woodman, from Bangor to 
New Haven, with a load of lumber, grounded near Muskeget. The 
captain left her in charge of a crew from Tuckernuck and went to Ed- 
gartown for assistance. Three hours after she was gotten off and 
taken to Edgartown. 

October 11th, brig "Saunders," of Searsport, Me., was found 
near Great Round Shoal, abandoned and full of water, with masts, 
rudder, cabin, etc., gone. She was seen two nights previous near and 
making for the Pollock Rip lightboat. She soon after stood off again 
and capsized. It was supposed that she had struck on some of the 
shoals and been abandoned by the crew. 

October 28th, ship "Planter" of this port, undergoing repairs on 
the marine railway at Brant Point, was totally destroyed by fire — 
supposed to be incendiary. 

November 13th, brig "Harvard," Anderson, of and for Boston, 
from Philadelphia, with a cargo of 700 tons of coal, was hove down 
off the South Shoal. Six men, including the mate, saved themselves 
in the boat. The mate afterwards died from exposure. The surviv- 
ors were picked up by a British brig and carried into New York. The 
captain, his wife and three men were left on the wreck. The mate 
and five men rushed for the boat, as the cargo had shifted and they 
judged the vessel would sink. A sea came on board, carrying the boat 
and the six men overboard. They attempted to regain the vessel to 
save the others, but found it impossible. The "Harvard" was a 
double-decked brig of 415 tons burthen. 

December 25th, schooner "Sarah Woodbridge, " Atkins, of Sa- 
lem, from Alexandria to Boston, with a load of coal, struck on Long 
Shoal. She was boarded next day in a severe gale by James C. Dun- 
ham and a boat's crew from Tuckernuck, in the Muskeget life-boat. 
Finding the vessel's boat stove and the sea running so high as to 
render it impossible to land with both crews in the life-boat, he prom- 
ised to stay by till the gale was over. At midnight the vessel filled 
with water, driving all hands on the quarter-deck. The vessel was 
now a complete mass of ice and Mr. Dunham ordered life preservers 
on the boat's crew. A sail was drawn over the men to shelter them 
from the piercing winds, the sea all the time breaking over the sunk- 
en wreck. In the morning, all hands were gotten into the life-boat and 
landed safely at Muskeget, where they were made comfortable at the 
humane house. Steamer "Island Home" afterwards went to the 
wreck, but could render no assistance. 

December 27th, schooner "Caroline," from Saco, Me., to Balti- 
more, with a cargo of pine lumber, in coming into this port struck on 
the Bar and bilged. The crew took to their boat at daylight the next 



70 

morning, but were unable to get through the ice. As soon as they 
were discovered, a boat from schooner "Ranger," manned by four 
men, went to their assistance, and succeeded in breaking through the 
ice and rescuing them. They had suffered very much from cold. 

1860. 

February 16th, brig "Susan," Capt. Henry N. West, from 
Georgetown to Bath, Me., with a cargo of yellow pine lumber, went 
ashore on Muskeget Rip during a gale. The crew took to their boat 
and landed on Muskeget through a heavy surf. The captain rendered 
the landing less perilous by pouring oil on the waves, but had it not 
been for the assistance of parties on shore, some of them must have 
perished. The cargo was about all saved, but the vessel became a to- 
tal wreck. Her hull was subsequently sold at auction for $25. 

April 12th, schooner "Hill Carter," of Dennis, with a cargo of 
com, went ashore on Great Point Rip. 

September 14th, schooner "Ringold," Thompson, from Philadel- 
phia to Boston, struck on Pochick rip at 1 o'clock in the morning and 
remained there until 5 p. m., when she got off and anchored under 
Siasconset. They were short of water, having been without for four 
days. 

October 11th, schooner "Nevis," Bickmore, from Roundout for 
Bangor, with a load of coal, struck on Great Point Rip. She was 
soon discovered and Captain Alexander B. Dunham, with six others, 
started for the Point, by way of Coskata, walking a distance of four 
and one-half miles. They reached the life-boat about 11 a. m. and 
after considerable difficulty succeeded in launching her, the sea being 
very rough at the time. The boat was manned by Alexander B. 
Dunham, his brothers George W. and Frederick A. Dunham, Joseph 
Patterson and Davis Hall, who proceeded to the vessel and in an ex- 
ceedingly violent sea and strong wind succeeded in taking off the 
crew, together with the captain's wife and child, who were all kindly 
cared for at the lighthouse. The "Nevis" was an old vessel and soon 
bilged. A portion of her cargo was saved. 

October 14th, brig "James Davis," Littlefield, from Pictou to 
Boston, with a cargo of coal, was driven on to the flat ground on the 
north side of Tuckernuck and eventually went to pieces. 

1861. 

February 12th, brig "Velocipede," McDonald, of and for Hali- 
fax, from Cienfuegos, with a cargo of molasses, came ashore at the 
south side of the island, between the heads of Hummock and Long 
Ponds, in a thick fog. The captain, his wife and crew, landed with 
difficulty and obtained shelter at a farm house. The annual town 
meeting, then in session, was adjourned the following day on account 



71 

of the wreck. A portion of the cargo was saved, but the vessel be- 
came a total loss. 

March 20th, ship "Liverpool Packet," 1000 tons burthen, 
Crosby, from Liverpool to Boston, with a valuable cargo of assorted 
merchandise, struck on the rips to the east of the island, dropped her 
anchor, dragged and finally cut away her masts. Still continuing to 
drag, she slipped her cable and drifted until she struck on the "Old 
Man." After remaining there some time, she beat over and her kedge 
anchor was dropped, which brought her head to the wind. She had on 
board twenty steerage passengers besides the captain's wife. The 
captain supposed himself on the north side of Massachusetts Bay when 
she struck. As soon as the vessel was discovered, steamer "Island 
Home" went to her assistance and towed her to Edgartown. 

June 8th, brig "Jaffa," Douglass, of Maitland, N. S., from 
Sydney, C. B., to New York, with a cargo of 210 tons of coal, struck 
on the "Old Man" and bilged. The crew took to their boats and land- 
ed at Siasconset the next morning. The vessel either went to pieces 
or beat over into deeper water and sank, as nothing more was ever 
seen of her. 

December 2d, brig "May Queen," Captain E. S. Giles, with a 
cargo of molasses, sugar and honey, came ashore near Low Beach. 
After several fruitless attempts to send a line from the vessel to the 
shore, a bluefish line was thrown from the shore to the vessel and by 
means of this a large line was drawn from the vessel to the shore. 
By this time, however, the life-boat arrived and got near enough to 
the vessel to rescue the crew, who were taken off in an exhausted con- 
dition. The spars, sails and rigging were saved, also most of the 
cargo. The hull was sold at auction for $42 and the balance of the 
cargo for $9. 

December 17th, schooner "Stella," Fait, from Baltimore to 
Boston, with a cargo of corn and flour, struck on some of the shoals 
after coming through Muskeget Channel, beat over and anchored near 
Eel Point. She was piloted into the harbor and repaired on the ma- 
rine railways. 

1862. 
February 24th, brig "Demarara," Cunningham, of and for Bos- 
ton, from Remedios, Cuba, with a cargo of sugar and honey, broke 
from her anchorage under Cape Poge and drifted on to the flats about 
four miles north of Eel Point. Owing to the gale the following day, 
it was impossible to board her, but on the 26th she was boarded by a 
boat's crew from Tuckernuck, who found her all right and the crew 
comfortable. She floated the following afternoon after discharging 
part of her cargo. 



72 

April 17th, fishing schooner "Elisha A. Baker," of Dennis, 
which had put in here in a storm on the 12th, with 1300 codfish in 
her well, on her passage out, struck on the Bar and sank. Her bal- 
last was taken out, she was hauled off, taken on the railways and re- 
paired. 

December 21st, schooner "Moses Warrenton," Ray, of Bangor, 
with a load of coal, went ashore on the west side of Great Point. 

December 21st, schooner "Agmear," Hall, from Cornwallis, N. 
S., to New York, with a load of potatoes, also went ashore at the 
same place. Both the above vessels eventually got off. 

1863. 

Api^'il 5th, schooner "America," Nugent, from Cornwallis, N. 
S., to New York, with a cargo of potatoes, was driven ashore at the 
Haulover. The crew landed in safety at low tide. Her cargo was 
discharged and the vessel sold as she lay for $365. 

April 21st, Prussian bark "Elwine Fredericke," Capt. Carl Zeb- 
el, from Cardiff, Wales, to New York, with a cargo of coal, struck 
on Great Point Rip in a thick fog. She was boarded by Captain Da- 
vid G. Patterson and Captain Aaron Coffin, who, at the imminent risk 
of their own lives, succeeded in rescuing the crew, fourteen in num- 
ber. The vessel soon after broke up and large quantities of the 
wrecked material drifted ashore at the north side of the island. She 
was three years old and one-half was owned by the unfortunate cap- 
tain. In recognition of his efficient aid, at the risk of his life, the 
King of Prussia forwarded to Captain Patterson a heavy silver chron- 
ometer watch, suitably inscribed. 

August 27th, a large schooner of about 260 tons, later found to 
be schooner "L. B. Myers," Somers, from Philadelphia to Boston with 
a cargo of coal, was discovered from town, sunk on Tuckernuck Shoal, 
with the crew in the rigging. One of the crew was drowned. Soon 
after a passing propeller took off the rest. Schooner "Rainbow," 
of this place, was dispatched to her and found her sunk in five fath- 
oms of water. Some of her sails and rigging were taken off. 

October 26th, brigantine "Scotland," Cormichael, with a cargo 
of coal, struck on the shoal grounds at the northeast of the island and 
sprang a leak. Fearing she would soon founder, the crew and one lady 
passenger took to their boats. The smaller boat, containing three 
men, soon foundered. The men were rescued and taken into the larg- 
er boat, which returned to the vessel and remained under her lee until 
daylight, when they started for the eastern shore, landing near Squam 
Head at about 1 o'clock in the afternoon. The lady fainted while the 
boat was in the surf, from exhaustion, caused by exposure and loss 
of sleep. She was conveyed to the farm of Elijah Luce and kindly 



73 

cared for. The weather was too severe to go to the vessel that day 
and on visiting the spot the following day it was found that she had 
sunk in twenty fathoms of water. She was three years old and about 
300 tons burthen. 

November 20th, bark "Sarah A. Nichols," Capt. Nichols, of 
Searsport, Me., from Elizabethport to Portland, struck on Great Point 
Rip and soon after broke up. The captain's wife and child eight 
months old, servant, first mate and two of the crew, who had gotten 
into the boat, had to be cut adrift in order to save the boat from sink- 
ing alongside. The captain, second mate and three men who remained 
on the quarter-deck, floated off with it after the vessel broke up and 
with the loss of one man, were picked up by a smack and carried into 
Edgartown the next day. In the list of passengers who arrived in 
Boston on the steamship "Africa" from Liverpool, the middle of the 
following January, appeared the name of "Mrs. Nichols, infant and 
nurse," probably the wife and child of Captain Nichols, who had been 
picked up by some passing vessel and carried to England. 

December 8th, during a very severe gale from the northwest, 
with snow, schooner "Volant," 250 tons burthen. Dodge, from Ban- 
gor to Washington, with a load of lumber, broke from her anchorage 
in the sound and went ashore on the east end of the Bar at about 10 
a. m. She was discovered from town and Capt. Alexander B. Dun- 
ham, with a boat's crew, started to their relief. On arriving out, 
they found it too rough to go alongside, but foreseeing this, they had 
provided themselves with a fishing boat, in which he and three others 
embarked, leaving the sail boat anchored about half a mile distant. 
The sea was making a clean breach over the vessel, which had by this 
time become so iced up that the crew were unable to leave in the usu- 
al manner, but were taken on board by means of a line, then trans- 
ferred to the larger boat and landed at the wharf in safety. On the 
13th, the vessel having become sufficiently lightened, was towed in 
from the Bar by steamer "Island Home." 

December 11th, schooner "Odessa," Capt. Thomas Amos, from 
St. Johns to Newport, with a load of lumber, was found water-logged 
in the sound and boarded by Alexander B., George W., Lorin A. 
and John H. Dunham and William J. Burgess, from the "Island 
Home," who took off the crew, five in number. They had been in the 
rigging forty-eight hours, without food or water, and had their hands 
and feet frozen. They were kindly cared for on board the "Island 
Home," the crew of the steamer giving up their own food to the crew 
of the vessel. On her return, the steamer towed the vessel to the 
Bar and on the 13th, being favored by an unusually high tide, towed 
her and the "Volant," mentioned above, into the inner harbor. 



74 

December 15th, schooner "Clara," Crowell, of Dennis, from 
Baltimore to Boston, with a valuable and assorted cargo, came ashore 
on Great Point, with no one on board. It appeared from the captain's 
statements, that having been unable to get an observation, they got 
among the shoals, lost anchors and chains, beat across several shoals 
and were about to go on another, when they took to their boat and 
landed on Chappequiddick island, near the Vineyard. The vessel 
brought up on Great Point, but was gotten off on the 22d, and towed 
to Holmes Hole, for repairs, by steamer "Island Home." 

1864. 

January 4th, schooner "Gen. Knox," Barter, of Thomaston,Me., 
from Hampton Roads to St. Johns, N. B., with a load of white oak 
ship timber, went aground on the shoals west of Muskeget. Steamer 
"Island Home" went to her assistance and towed on her till after 
high water, but did not succeed in getting her off. A schooner was 
immediately dispatched to lighten her of her cargo, but the weather 
being thick, she grounded on the Bar and did not reach her. By the 
assistance of a company of men from Tuckernuck, the vessel was got- 
ten off next day at high water and proceeded on her voyage on the 
7th. 

January 15th, schooner "Gen. Peavey, " of Maine, from New 
York to Pembroke, Me., with a cargo of pig iron, struck on Tucker- 
nuck Shoal, causing her to leak badly. She was taken in tow by 
steamer "Island Home" next morning and carried to Holmes Hole. 

March — , schooner "Triumph" was sunk near the Cross Rip 
lightship. Captain D. G. Patterson contracted to save the cargo and 
if possible raise the vessel, but no further mention of her appears. 

March 23d, a vessel with no one on board came ashore near Mus- 
keget, having probably driven over from the other side in a severe 
gale. 

April 4th, British bark "Eleanor," Brothers, from Cardiff, 
Wales, to Portland, with a cargo of hemp and coal, struck on the 
shoals off the head of the harbor, got clear and anchored off Squam. 
Three unsuccessful attempts were made to board her from the shore, 
the boat being swamped each time and finally stove by the violent surf 
which rolled upon the beach. In the meantime, however, the crew 
landed at Quidnet in their own boats, bringing a few personal effects, 
nautical instruments, etc., leaving the vessel at anchor, leaking bad- 
ly. The "Island Home," on her arrival, went out to her, took her 
in tow and carried her to Hyannis, where she sank near the break- 
water. Had it not been for the service rendered by the "Island 
Home," the vessel would have sunk at her anchors and been totally 
lost. 



75 

April 13th, at 3 o'clock in the morning, schooner "Jennie Mor- 
ton," Averill, of Baltimore, from Matanzas to Portland, with a car- 
go of sugar and molasses, came ashore near Smith's Point. The cap- 
tain mistook Sankaty light for Gay Head and struck about 300 yards 
from the shore. The vessel was subsequently kedged off after staving 
her deck load of 30 hogsheads of molasses. 

April 17th, schooner "William Jones," from Baltimore to Port- 
land with a load of coal, ran ashore on the end of Great Point. She 
was gotten off on the 20th, parted her chains in the gale that day and 
had to be run ashore in the Chord of the Bay. She was gotten off 
again the following day and taken to Edgartown. 

April 17th, two schooners grounded on Great Point Rip, but 
were soon gotten off and proceeded on their voyages. These disasters 
were occasioned by the absence of the Cross Rip lightboat, she having 
broken from her moorings a few days previous and drifted ashore on 
Cape Poge. 

May 31st, at midnight, schooner "Gazette," Chandler, of and for 
Boston, from Philadelphia, with a cargo of coal, struck on Great Point 
Rip, but was gotten off next day and proceeded on her voyage leaking 
a little. 

June 3d, at 1 o'clock in the morning, brig "Sea Lark," O'Neal, 
of and for Boston, from Nuevitas,with a cargo of molasses and sugar, 
grounded on Tuckernuck Shoal and remained there until 10 o'clock, 
when she was gotten off and proceeded on her way. 

October 1st, schooner "Charlotte," Richardson, from Ban- 
gor, Me., bound to Newport, R. I., with a load of lumber, struck 
on the outer end of Pollock Rip about 8 o'clock in the evening and 
damaged the vessel so badly that when she drifted off she commenced 
sinking. She finally struck on Great Round Shoal and knocked her 
bottom entirely out. Her crew took refuge on the quarter-deck and 
drifted about until the 3d, when they were sighted by the steamer on 
her passage to Hyannis, A boat was immediately sent to them and 
they were taken on board in a very exhausted condition and landed at 
Hyannis. 

November 9th, brig "Jacinto," from Cienfuegos, Cuba, bound 
to Boston, grounded on Great Point Rip, but was gotten off at night 
and left the Bar for Hyannis the next day. 

1865. 

March 26th, schooner "Annie Caroline" ran into the Handker- 
chief Shoal lightship and was so badly damaged that she sank soon 
after. The crew took refuge on the lightslhip and were taken off 
next day by steamer "Island Home." The vessel was stripped and 
wrecked. 



76 

June 10th, English ship "Stadacona," Stewart, in ballast, came 
ashore on Smith's Point, near the head of Hither Creek, in a thick 
fog. She had on board a crew of thirty men and the officers, crew 
and a number of soldiers (passengers) taken from the U. S. steam 
transport "Admiral Dupont, " from New York to Fortress Monroe, 
which vessel she had run down on the morning of the 8th. The sol- 
diers were furloughed men from Sherman's army and were on their 
way back to join their respective regiments. By the collision, one 
fireman, six soldiers and one colored woman (passenger) were lost. 
The fog being very dense, the first intimation the citizens had of the 
disaster was the soldiers marching into town. They marched directly 
on board the steamer, which was then about ready to sail, where they 
were furnished with provisions by the citizens. A steam tug from 
New York was sent down to the assistance of the vessel and she was 
gotten off July 8th. 

June 11th, steamer "Saxon," Matthews, from Boston to Phila- 
delphia, grounded on Great Rip. Steamer "Island Home" went to 
her assistance and after parting three large hawsers and tearing out 
one of her bitts, succeeded in getting her off. The "Saxon" after- 
wards ran onto Three Fathom Bank, when the "Island Home" again 
hauled her off and she proceeded to Philadelphia. 

September 8th, schooner "Champion," Sleeper, of South Thom- 
aston. Me., bound to Belfast, foundered in a gale while trying to get 
into Edgartown. The crew took to their boat and landed on Tucker- 
nuck at about 1 o'clock the next morning. The bottom plank of the 
vessel came off, her cargo washed out and she drifted on to the shoals 
near Tuckernuck, where she was boarded and stripped of sails, rig- 
ging, etc. 

October 12th, schooner "Carroll, " Parsons, of East Machias, 
Me., from Machias to New York, with a load of lumber, parted her 
chains and had her sails split in a gale and went ashore on Great 
Point. She was boarded by a boat from town and the crew taken off. 

October 12th, schooner "Champion," Sawyer, of Millbridge, 
from Elizabethport, N. J., to Newburyport, with a load of coal, sank 
off Great Point. The crew landed safely. About 35 tons of coal 
were saved and sold at auction, bringing from $12 to $13 per ton. 

October 21st, at 1 o'clock in the morning, schooner "Eveline 
Treat," Capt. Job Philbrook, from Philadelphia to Gloucester, with a 
cargo of coal, struck on Miacomet Rip. At daybreak she was discov- 
ered from the tower, some 300 feet off shore, with five men, two of 
whom were the captain's sons, lashed in the rigging. The sea carried 
away her house on deck soon after. The wind had blown fiercely 
through the night and the waves swept her decks continually. The 



77 

mortar and apparatus of the Humane Society were conveyed to the 
beach and a small line thrown over the vessel, which was secured by 
one of the captain's sons, who, though cold and stiff from exposure, 
succeeded in hauling a hawser attached to it across and making it fast 
to the mast-head. A sling was attached to the hawser and the cap- 
tain's sons endeavored to prevail upon their father to get into it and 
be drawn ashore. He made the attempt, but his courage failing, he 
resumed his former place in the shrouds and refused to move. The 
mate then fastened himself into the sling and was slowly drawn tow- 
ards the shore. When half way over and again when near the beach, 
a snarl in the rope rendered it impossible to pull him in. A line was 
thrown him which he caught, fastened round his waist and leaped into 
the sea. By the joint efforts of those on shore, he was rescued and 
carried quickly to town, where he was kindly cared for. The second 
man, one of the captain's sons, came ashore in a similar manner. 
Three men yet remained in the rigging. While the two younger ones 
seemed active, it was the universal desire to save the life of the cap- 
tain. A life-car was adjusted to the hawser and Daniel W. Fol- 
ger, of this town, volunteered to go off to the vessel and, if possible, 
persuade the captain to get in ; but this failed to work and the sling 
was their only resort. Finally the young sailors on board succeeded 
in helping the old man into the sling and when they had firmly bound 
him, he was slowly drawn landward. When midway between the ves- 
sel and the beach, the line became entangled and for about an hour 
and a half the captain hung swinging over a yawning surge in his 
stocking feet, bare-headed and cramped from the nature of his posi- 
tion, with the drifting sea foam beating in his face and drenching him 
to the skin, and occasionally partly submerged by the rising waves. 
The men in the shrouds still worked upon the snarl, but it would not 
give way. Night was coming on and something must be done soon, 
as the man could not survive much longer. At this juncture, a young 
man named Frederick W. Ramsdell fastened a light rope around his 
waist, sprang upon the hawser and made his way out. With a knife, 
which he carried in his teeth, he detached the line fastened to either 
side of the seat, made fast the ends and flung it into the sea. He 
then took the rope from his waist, secured it to the sling and worked 
his way back to the shore. It was a daring feat, but well performed. 
Nothing then remained but to haul the old man in. Eager hands bore 
him to a carriage in waiting and he was soon under a friendly roof. 
The line reaching from the shore to the vessel was then cut, again at- 
tached to the running block and the sling was hauled off. It was not 
long before the last two men were landed and the large concourse of 
citizens who had thronged the beach, with lightened hearts wended 
their devious ways homeward. Mr. Ramsdell was afterwards present- 
ed with the highest medal of the Massachusetts Humane Society. The 
vessel and cargo were a total loss. 



78 

October 27th, schooner "Amelia, " Fitchet, of Halifax, loaded 
with freestone and butter, ran aground on Tuckernuck Shoal. She 
discharged her cargo into lighters sent out to her and was gotten off 
on the 31st. 

December 22d, schooner "Haynes," of and for Boston, from the 
West Indies, loaded with logwood, ran ashore at the south side of the 
island near the head of Hummock pond. The crew abandoned her and 
perished in attempting to reach the shore. Had they remained on 
board all would have been saved. On the following Sunday a body 
identified as that of the steward was found upon the beach. The cause 
of her getting ashore was unknown, but it was supposed that her 
captain mistook Sankaty light for Gay Head and ran accordingly. 
The position of the vessel warranted this conjecture, as she lay about 
as far west of Sankaty as she should be from Gay Head on entering 
the Vineyard Sound. Her cargo was discharged and carted to town, 
but the vessel went to pieces. 

December 25th, ship "Newton, "Capt. F. G. Herting, of and for 
Hamburg, from New York, with a cargo of kerosene, staves, rosin, 
fustic, etc., went to pieces early in the morning, on the south side of 
the island, to the eastward of Maddequecham Pond. One of the crew 
was found about half a mile inland, naked, with his face buried in 
the sand. He had probably reached the shore by swimming and start- 
ed for the nearest house, but perished on the way. He was about 
twenty-five or thirty years of age. On his right arm were the initials 
"J. K.," marked with India ink and on his left arm "C. U." He 
was afterwards identified as the second mate of the "Newton." The 
beach for miles to the eastward of the wreck was covered with frag- 
ments, apparently the result of an explosion, which many thought 
must have occurred and everything seemed to favor such an opinion. 
Large spars were broken off short, as was also an iron truss about 
the size of a man's arm, and a large iron tank lay high upon the 
beach one or two hundred yards from the wreck. The breakers were 
filled with barrels of kerosene, fragments of broken barrels and other 
articles of which her cargo consisted, while her iron hull itself seemed 
to be crushed like an egg shell into a shapeless mass. A startling co- 
incidence that within a little more than forty-eight hours two vessels 
should thus land on our shores and not a soul survive to tell the 
mournful story. Many conjectures were rife as to the cause of both 
disasters, but as there was not a single survivor spared to tell the 
tale, the whole affair must always remain shrouded in mystery. Along 
the line of the beach, stretching as far as Quidnet, dead bodies were 
to be seen floating in the surf and afterwards thrown upon the 
sands. Seventeen bodies in all were washed ashore, the most of which 
were identified as belonging to the "Newton," These were entombed 



79 

in the Unitarian burying ground and afterwarda buried aide by side, 
each grave being numbered according to the order in which the body 
came ashore. Very solemn and imposing funeral ceremonies were 
conducted in the Methodist Church on the following Sunday afternoon, 
after which the citizens, with others who were inclined, formed in 
front of the church and walked to the cemetery, where hundreds, in- 
cluding many ladies, gathered around the tomb to pay their last trib- 
utes of respect to the unknown dead. Upon evidence furnished by the 
ship's agent, it was ascertained that Capt. Herting was a Free Mason 
and his remains were taken in charge by Union Lodge and buried from 
their room the following afternoon with Masonic rites. The "New- 
ton" was an iron ship of 699 tons burthen and nearly new, having 
made but one voyage. About 2200 barrels of kerosene, together with 
a quantity of fustic, etc., were saved and the wreck was subsequent- 
ly sold at auction as she lay, to New Bedford parties, for $510. 

December 27th, bark "B. Co 1 cord, " bound from the West Indies 
to a port in Maine, in ballast, went ashore on Gravel Island Shoal. 
Steamer Island Home went out to her, but owing to the heavy sea 
running, which, together with the wind, had driven her far up on the 
shoal, she could not get near enough to render any assistance. The 
vessel was finally abandoned, sold at auction and purchased by a com- 
pany in town, who gave her up to a wrecking party to get her off. 
After working on her all winter, they gave up to another party from 
abroad, who worked upon her, but with no better success. The com- 
pany who purchased her then made a contract with Capt. David G. 
Patterson to get her off, which he succeeded in doing after several 
weeks' labor and she was towed to the wharf. She was subsequently 
fitted out from here as a whaler and sold round Cape Horn on the 
voyage. 

1866. 

January 5th, schooner "Sandalphon, " from Boston to Savannah, 
with 800 barrels of potatoes, went aground on Tuckernuck, but got 
off without assistance. 

April 24th, three-masted schooner "Samuel Colt," Hilliard, of 
Portland, Conn., from Jersey City to New Bedford, with a cargo of 
$1000 worth of spars and 200 tons of coal, came ashore on the south- 
west side of the island, near the head of Broad Creek and bilged. 
The captain and mate were both washed overboard and lost. The re- 
mainder of the crew, three in number, were saved. Her spars, sails, 
etc., and deck load of spars were saved. The body of Capt. Hilliard 
was found three days later, about four miles to the eastward of the 
wreck. 

May 1st, schooner "Eunice H. Adams," Coleman, which left 



80 

here for a whaling voyage in the North Atlantic Ocean, grounded on 
the flats on her passage out and, the tide falling, left her remaining 
aground. About midnight, steamer "Island Home" went out to en- 
deavor to get her off, but did not succeed. The following day a se- 
vere storm of wind and rain set in. Before noon the wind had hauled 
to the northward, sending in a heavy sea, which as the tide rose, 
caused the vessel to thump heavily. About 1 o'clock she floated, 
slipped her cables, came back into the harbor and was run aground on 
the flats south of the Commercial wharf. The next morning the gale 
had abated and she was hauled off without having sustained any in- 
jury. 

June 18th, bark "Winslow," Brooks, from Philadelphia to Port- 
land, with a cargo of coal, struck on one of the rips west of Muske- 
get, bilged and filled. She was subsequently stripped of sails and 
rigging. 

July — , the bottom of a vessel came ashore at the west end of 
the island. She appeared to have been loaded with kerosene and 
burned at sea. 

September 9th, schooner "Leesburg," Capt. Charles Smith, from 
Portland to Elizabethport, N. J., with a load of lumber, struck on 
Great Point Rip. Her deck load was thrown overboard, after which 
an attempt was made by steamer "Island Home" to haul her off, but 
she did not succeed, as the vessel filled with water. On the follow- 
ing day, however, she was gotten afloat and proceeded to Holmes 
Hole. 

October 4th, brig "Star Castle," Thomas, from Brunswick, Me., 
to New Haven, with a load of lumber, ran on to Great Point Rip. She 
was gotten off and towed into the harbor November 2d, having stove 
a hole in her bottom by running on to an anchor. Her hull and effects 
were sold at auction November 7th, for $1,916.84. 

December 24th, brig "C. C. Van Horn," Thomas, bound from 
Cienfuegos to Boston, with a cargo of sugar and molasses valued at 
$25,000, struck on Great Point Rip in thick weather. The crew 
abandoned her in a sinking condition and landed on Great Point. 
Owing to the thickness of the weather, the vessel was not seen from 
town; word was sent down from the Point, however, and the "Island 
Home" went to her immediately, but could render no assistance as the 
vessel had sunk before she got there. On the 26th, the steamer 
again went to the wreck and found she had risen to the surface. She 
accordingly made fast and towed her in till she grounded on the Bar. 
During a severe gale the following afternoon she was driven westward; 
in the night the wind changed to the westward, still blowing a gale, 
and she was driven back to the Bar, near where she was left by the 



81 

steamer. Her cargo was subsequently discharged and the vessel 
stripped of sails, rigging, spars, etc. Her hulk was finally driven 
ashore high and dry at the foot of the Cliff, where it remained for 
many years, a special object of interest to summer visitors. It also 
did good service during the summer months as a free bath house for 
men and boys. 

December 28th, the Cross Rip lightship, manned by a Nantucket 
crew, in charge of the mate, Charles M. Thomas, (the captain and 
watch being ashore on liberty) broke from her moorings during a 
heavy westerly gale and drove out to sea. No tidings were heard of 
her for six weeks and all hands had been given up as lost when a let- 
ter was received from New Orleans announcing the arrival of the 
crew there the last of January on ship Henry L. Richardson, from 
Thomaston, Me., which had sighted the lightship December 29th in a 
sinking condition, with signals of distress flying, and taken off the 
crew. 

1867. 

May 22d, schooner "Fanny Bagley," Small, from Eastport,Me., 
to Philadelphia, with a cargo of 350 tons of plaster, struck on Great 
Point Rip during a thick fog and sank. Her spars, rigging, etc., 
were saved and the hull sold at auction for $25; the cargo sold for $1. 
The schooner was a new vessel of 250 tons burthen. 

July SOth, sloop "Guilford," of New Bedford, which came here 
with diving and other apparatus on board to operate on the wreck of 
the ship "Newton," (lost December 25th, 1865) was sunk by strik- 
ing on the wreck. There was a heavy sea running at the time and 
the crew were unable to save much of anything except what they 
stood in. Her sails and rigging were saved later in the day, but 
nothing was to be seen of the vessel the following morning. 

December 22d, schooner "Nil Desperandum, " Capt. Oliver, of 
Wellfleet, from Tantiers, Md., to Boston, with a load of oysters, 
struck on Great Point in a thick fog, but was gotten off on the morn- 
ing of the 25th, after throwing overboard part of her cargo. 

1868. 

January 26th, British brig "J. E. Woodworth," Capt. Carde, of 
and from Windsor, N. S., to New York, with a cargo of plaster, hav- 
ing experienced several days of very heavy weather, mistook Sankaty 
Head light for that on Montauk Point, and anchored off Low Beach. 
The wind increased to a gale and the vessel commenced to drag her 
anchors. Fearing she would drag on to Pochick Rip and go to pieces, 
her cables were slipped and she was run ashore at Low Beach. She 
was subsequently gotten off, but swung on to the beach again and 
bilged. Her hull and spars were sold for $920 and her cargo for $2. 



82 

After being stripped, she was again sold at auction for $75. She was 
a new vessel, just launched. 

May 20th, ship "Templar," Rogers, of and for Boston, from 
Calcutta, grounded on Bass Rip. The crew were taken off by a pass- 
ing smack and carried into Holmes Hole. The ship floated off in the 
night and went ashore near Muskeget. Steamer "Monohanset" went 
to her assistance and towed her into Edgartown, leaking badly. 

July 17th, brig "Eliza," Beckwith, of Sydney, Cape Breton, 
from Port au Prince to Boston, with a partial cargo of honey, coffee, 
bones and rags, came ashore at the south side of the island, near the 
Miacomet Pond. Owing to a thick fog, they had gotten so near the 
land that the vessel thumped heavily while lying at anchor, and they 
were compelled to slip her cables and run her ashore. The vessel was 
old and proved a total loss. Her sails, spars, rigging and all her ef- 
fects were sold at auction for $500. Her hull was also sold at auc- 
tion for $55. Her cargo was about all gotten out and forwarded to 
Boston. 

October 17th, a sudden and severe gale from the north began 
shortly before noon, lasting until the next day, during which the fol- 
lowing disasters occurred: 

English schooner "Unexpected," Capt. Robertson, anchored in the 
sound, dragged steadily toward the Bar. Her light was seen on the 
bar during the evening and a volunteer crew attempted to board her, 
but the gale was so fierce they were unable to make any headway. 
Next morning it was found she had driven over and grounded in 
smooth water. 

Schooner "J. B. Myers," Elwood, of Southport, loaded with coal, 
went ashore in the Chord of the Bay. 

Schooner "Smith Tuttle," Day, of Gloucester, also coal-laden, 
drove ashore on the outside of Coatue. 

A small vessel (name not given) was wrecked in the Chord of the 
Bay. Another, partially disabled and anchored near Great Point 
with signal set for assistance, was boarded by a wrecking crew who 
worked her in to Hyannis. 

Schooner "Balloon," lumber-laden, sank near the Bar. 

Of the above the "Balloon" was raised and towed to Holmes 
Hole by steamer Island Home, and the "Unexpected" and "Smith 
Tuttle" were subsequently gotten off and brought in here. 

1869. 
January 21st, British brigantine "Glenlevit, " of St. Johns, N. 
B., from Pernambuco to Boston, with a cargo of sugar, struck on 



83 

South Shoal. The crew, eight in number, abandoned her at 5 p. m., 
and landed at Low Beach about midnight. The vessel was fallen in 
with on the 23d by pilot boat "Francis Perkins," 250 miles east of 
Sandy Hook, and taken into New York, after throwing overboard 100 
bags of sugar, 

February 26th, ship "Harry Bluff," Capt. Oliver, of New York, 
from Cadiz to Boston, with a cargo of salt, wine and cork, struck on 
South Shoal and soon after filled with water. She was abandoned at 
anchor in thirteen fathoms of water, with sixteen feet of water in the 
hold and probably foundered soon after. In leaving the ship, two of 
the crew were drowned and two more were afterwards frozen to death 
in the boat. The survivors were picked up by brig "Clara Jennings," 
carried to Boston and most of them placed in the hospital. All were 
more or less frost-bitten. 

March 18th, schooner "Z. L. Adams," Robbins, from Philadel- 
phia to Boston, with a cargo of 350 tons of coal, mistook Great Point 
light for that of the Cross Rip lightboat and ran on to Great Point 
Rip. She was gotten off on the 20th, after throwing overboard part 
of her cargo. 

April 15th, schooner "Sidney Price," Townsend,of and for Phil- 
adelphia, with a cargo of ice, struck on Great Point Rip, but was got- 
ten off with three feet of water in the hold and leaking badly. The 
captain was injured by the wheel when the vessel struck. 

July 20th, a wrecked vessel was seen floating by the island. On 
her return from Hyannis the following day, steamer "Island Home" 
started in pursuit of the wreck, and came up with her between Gay 
Head and Neman's Land. She proved to be the bark "Harriet Lives- 
ley," of Pictou. She was on her beam ends and full of water, hav- 
ing apparently been run into by a steamer a short time previous, and 
was so badly wrecked as to be of comparatively no value. Her deck 
was gone on the leeward side, and her cargo, if she had any, had 
washed out. The steamer towed her into Tarpaulin Cove. 

December 8th, schooner "Ringleader, " Snare, from Bangor to 
Boston, with a cargo of hay, bricks and potatoes, went ashore in the 
Chord of the Bay and filled with water. Part of the cargo was thrown 
overboard and part of it landed on Coatue. The vessel was gotten off 
on the 13th and towed to Holmes Hole by steamer "Island Home." 

1870. 

March 16th, schooner "Leila," Foss, from Satalia, Ga.,to Port- 
land, with a cargo of yellow pine lumber, came ashore on the south 
side of the island near Miacomet Pond in the night, during a severe 
gale. The crew got ashore safely, although badly chilled. The car- 
go was saved, but the vessel was a total loss. 



84 

August 30th, brig "Poinsett," Anderson, from Havana to Bos- 
ton, heavily laden with sugar, having on board 355 hogsheads and a 
few boxes, ran ashore on the south side of the island near Nobadeer 
Pond. About 40 casks in all were saved, when the vessel broke up 
and became a total loss. Fragments of the vessel were strewn along 
the beach for miles. 

September 28th, U. S. steam frigate "Guerriere," from Ports- 
mouth, N. H., to New York, having on board the remains of Admiral 
Farragut, ran ashore on Great Point Rip. She was boarded by Cap- 
tain Alexander B. Dunham, and being in need of assistance, a boat 
was sent ashore for steamer "Island Home" and lighters. The steam- 
er went to her immediately with an extra crew and the necessary 
equipments, taking schooner "Onward" in tow. Two other schooners 
were sent to her and she was lightened of her cargo by the three ves- 
sels, which lay alongside and took on board shot, shell, provisions, 
etc. An anchor was put out, by which, together with the assistance 
of the "Island Home," the frigate was hauled off the next afternoon, 
after which she steamed around inside the Point, took in her cargo and 
left for New York on Saturday afternoon, October 1st. The remains 
of Admiral Farragut were transferred to the "Island Home," carried 
to Hyannis and sent on to New York, accompanied by a delegation 
from the City Council of New York and a guard of marines. 

September 29th, parts of a wreck, apparently a vessel of 100 
tons or more, including a piece of the stern, with the name "Edward 
King" upon it, were washed ashore at the east end of the island. 

October 28th, steamer "Saxon," Sears, from Philadelphia to 
Boston, went aground on Horse Shoe Shoal. Steamer "Island Home" 
went to her and hauled her off, making the second time she had ren- 
dered assistance to the same steamer. (See June 11th, 1865.) 

November 20th, fishing smack "Reindeer," Ivans, from Green- 
port to this place, struck on the Bar coming in and eventually went 
to pieces. 

1871. 

January 9th, bark "Sarah M. Smith," Bishop, of St. Johns, N. 
B., from Liverpool to Boston, with an assorted cargo of railroad iron, 
salt, wool, etc., ran on to Tuckernuck Shoal during a severe gale. The 
captain mistook Chatham light for Cape Ann and struck on Pollock 
Rip, starting a bad leak. He then tried to make a harbor, but owing 
to thick snow squalls, could not see the Cross Rip light boat, and got 
so far in that he brought up on Tuckernuck Shoal. The following 
morning steamer "Island Home" went to her assistance, but finding 
it necessary to employ lighters, returned and towed out several ves- 
sels. Her cargo was discharged and the vessel floated Sunday, the 
15th. She was taken in tow next day by the "Island Home" and 
carried into Hyannis. 



85 

February 4th, schooner "Mary Anna," Capt. F. G. Lennan, of 
Hampden, Me., from South Amboy to Portland, with a cargo of coal, 
having broken from her moorings near Chatham the previous day and 
become so iced up as to be in danger of sinking, was stranded near 
the Inner Bar, where she was discovered next morning (Sunday) firm- 
ly bedded in the ice, with a signal of distress flying. Steam was at 
once gotten up on the "Island Home" and she was started to the res- 
cue. She succeeded in forcing her way around Brant Point, but a 
short distance beyond she came to a stand. The ice quickly closed in 
behind her and she was unable to proceed or even return, remaining 
there until Tuesday afternoon, completely docked as it were. Various 
attempts were made to reach the vessel during the day, but it was 
found impossible, as the ice was in that treacherous condition which 
forbade the possibility of travelling upon it, while it was equally im- 
possible to work a boat through it. About 10 o'clock that night, a 
party of eight men, provided with two dories and several long boards, 
pushed out from the Cliff shore, feeling their way cautiously towards 
the distressed vessel. The night was clear, but the air was stinging 
cold and the ice in some places unfit to bear the weight of the dories. 
At such places the boards came into play and in two instances they 
were obliged to take to their boats and pull. Thus altering the differ- 
ent means of locomotion to suit the circumstances, they toiled on some 
two hours and a half in passing a distance of about two miles. They 
reached the wreck all safe and found the crew, five in number, nearly 
worn out with cold and exhaustion. The vessel lay well over on her 
beam ends in ten feet of water, with her deck partly out and every 
part of her cumbered with ice to such an extent that only the general 
form of the hull could be distinguished. But a short stay was made 
at the vessel and the return was effected in the same manner as the 
passage out, the whole party landing about 3 o'clock Monday morning, 
safe and sound, saving a few frost-bites, but nearly worn out with 
cold and exhaustion. The men who succeeded in reaching the vessel 
and rescuing the crew were Isaac Hamblen, George A. Veeder, Alex- 
ander Fanning, James A. Holmes, Joseph P. Gardner, William E. 
Bates, Stephen Keyes and Henry C. Coffin. Had relief been delayed 
but a short time longer, two out of the five must have perished. The 
steward, who had both feet frozen, had given himself up to die, ac- 
tually bidding good-bye to his shipmates, who covered him up the best 
they could and left him to his fate. A silver medal was awarded to 
each of the rescuing party by the Massachusetts Humane Society and 
quite a sum of money was raised by subscription and distributed 
among them. A portion of the cargo was afterwards saved and the 
vessel stripped and broken up. 

August 20th, schooner "Matilda M.," of Parrsboro, N. S., with 



86 

a cargo of plaster, struck on Great Point Rip. Steamer "Island 
Home" went to her assistance and succeeded in hauling her off the 
following night, after about 50 tons of her cargo had been thrown 
overboard. 

October 26th, bark "Conquest" ran on to Round Shoal. She re- 
mained there until the 28th (Saturday), when she was gotten off and 
proceeded to Boston, leaking about 150 strokes per hour. Owing to 
foggy weather, she was not seen from town until Saturday, when the 
"Island Home" went to her, but was too late to be of any assistance. 

October 29th, schooner "Mary H. Banks," Chase, from George- 
town, D. C, to Wareham, with a load of coal, ran ashore at the west 
end of the island, near Further Creek. A crew from Tuckernuck 
manned the life-boat of the Massachusetts Humane Society, and after 
much difficulty and at the risk of their own lives rescued the crew and 
one lady, the mate's wife, from their perilous position, chilled through 
and exhausted. The vessel broke up and became a total loss. Her 
remains were subsequently sold at auction for $30 and the coal in and 
about her for $2. 

October 30th, brig "C. C. Shaw," of Yarmouth, N. S., from 
Turk's Island to Boston, with a cargo of salt, ran on to Great Point 
Rip. She was gotten off with the assistance of six lobster men from 
the shore. Steamer "Island Home" offered assistance, which was 
declined. 

1872. 

January 7th, schooner "Daniel Reed," from Boston to Amboy, 
in ballast, parted both chains in a northwest gale and went ashore in 
the Chord of the Bay on the west side of Great Point. She was gotten 
off on the morning of the 9th and towed into Hyannis by steamer "Isl- 
and Home." 

April 4th, German bark "Willy & Emmy," Andrews, from Wil- 
mington, N. C, to Queenstown, Eng., struck on Great Point Rip. 
The mate, with a boat's crew, landed at Siasconset the next morning 
and came to town for assistance. The "Island Home" went out to 
her and made several ineffectual attempts to haul her off. She was 
finally lightered and stripped of sails, rigging, etc., which were sold 
at auction. The vessel went to pieces, but little of any value being 
saved. 

August 24th, fishing schooner "Rebecca Bartlett, " of and for 
Gloucester, from the Banks, was discovered aground on Bass Rip, with 
a signal of distress flying. A life-boat was manned by eight men, 
who went to their assistance. Anchors were gotten out and the vessel 
kedged off at about 5 p. m., when the crew from the shore left her 
off Sankaty Head, leaking about 700 strokes per hour. 




BARK MINMANUETH 
Ashore near the Miacomet Pond. 




She was gotten off after dischargine about 
1000 bass of coffee on the beach. 



Photos by Freeman. 



87 

September 2d, schooner "G. Barrows," from St. Johns for Prov- 
idence, with a load of lumber, struck on Great Point Rip in the after- 
noon, threw over her deck load and floated about 7.30 p. m., just as 
steamer "Island Home," which had been sent to her assistance, got 
there. 

December 8th, schooner "H. Means," ran ashore on Tuckernuck. 
She was gotten off with loss of deckload of staves and brought in here 
for repairs. 

1873. 

March 8th, bark "Blanche Home," Capt. Buck, from New York 
for Portland, stranded on Little Round Shoal. She was boarded next 
daj' by steamer "Verbena" and assistance rendered to get her afloat, 
after which she proceeded on her voyage. 

March 20th, bark "Celeste Clark," Foster, of and for Boston, 
from Liverpool, struck on Little Round Shoal in a snow storm. The 
crew took to their boat and succeeded in reaching the Shovelful light- 
boat in safety, though much exhausted. The bark soon went to pieces. 

July 30th, British bark "PJinmanueth, " Sherris, frcm Rio Janei- 
ro to Boston, with a cargo of 4000 bags of coft'ee, came ashore at the 
south side of the island, near the Miacomet Pond, in a thick fog. The 
weather proved very fine and the vessel was gotten off three days lat- 
er, after discharging about 1000 bags of coffee. 

November 18th, bark "Flora M. Hurlburt," Dudley, from Bos- 
ton to Galveston, Texas, with an assorted cargo, came ashore at the 
north side of the island, near Whale Rock, inside the Bar, in thick 
weather. During a violent gale the previous night the vessel had 
struck on one of the shoals, but drove off again. She floated next 
day and anchored inside the Bar with two lighters alongside. She 
remained at anchor until the forenoon of the 25th, when the "Island 
Home" attempted to take her over the Bar, but she grounded and 
stuck fast. Her cargo was then discharged and she was gotten off 
December 1st. She was taken over the Bar next day by the "Island 
Home" and towed into Woods Hole. 

November 20th, schooner "West Dennis," Crowell, of Dennis, 
from Boston to Philadelphia, with an assorted cargo, struck on Great 
Point Rip. Steamer "Island Home" went to her assistance, succeed- 
ed in hauling her off and towed her into Vineyard Haven. 

1874. 

June 17th, schooner "Harriet Newell," from Machias, Me., to 
New York, with a load of lumber, struck on Great Point Rip, but got 
off the next morning, after throwing overboard part of her deck load. 

November 2d, schooner "George W. Andrews," from St. George, 
with a load of stone, went ashore on the west side of Tuckernuck 



88 

Shoal inner part. She was gotten off next day, with the assistance of 
two boats' crews from Tuckernuck. 

December 15th, brig "Eudorus" broke from her anchorage near 
Tuckernuck Shoal and drove on to the Bar. A crew of sixteen per- 
sons, consisting of Captain Heman Eldredge, Isaac Hamblen, Joseph 
P. Gardner, John Hamblin, William H. Wyer, Elisha Phinney, James 
Joy, William H. Smith, Henry Snow, Peter Brock, Thomas P. Ham- 
blin, Charles E Snow, William M. Eldredge, George H. Hamblin, 
John M. Winslow and Obed Orpin, put off in the Underwriters' boat, 
though a heavy sea was running at the time, and rescued the crew. 
The weather was very cold, the thermometer standing at 10 degrees, 
and several were frost-bitten. Part of the cargo was discharged into 
lighters and the vessel was hauled off on the 19th by steamer "Island 
Home." 

1875. 

May 2d (Sunday), schooner "Irving," Capt. Azevedo, of and for 
New Bedford, from Brava, Cape de Verde, with 112 barrels of oil on 
freight and 30 passengers, went ashore on Smith's Point Island at 9 
o'clock in the evening, in consequence of mistaking Sankaty light for 
Gay Head. In addition to the freight and passengers, they had on 
board about 20 goats. The crew and passengers were rescued by a 
boat's crew from Tuckernuck. The cargo was landed on Smith's Point 
Island and taken to New Bedford by sloop "Tawtemeo." The vessel 
was condemned, sold at auction and broken up. 

1876. 

January 31st, four men landed in a yawl boat on the outside of 
Great Point. They proved to be the crew of schooner "Undine," 
Capt. Stokes, from Boston to New York, with a load of Quincy gran- 
ite. The vessel had been driven out from Nantasket Roads on the af- 
ternoon of the 29th and experienced heavy weather throughout the 
night, which overturned a six-ton block of granite on deck, straining 
the vessel so badly as to cause her to leak. Being unable to keep her 
free by pumping, the crew abandoned her about forty miles S. E. of 
Sankaty Head, when she immediately sank. When they landed, they 
had been in their boat forty-eight hours, had their hands and feet frost- 
bitten and were much exhausted from exposure. The "Undine" was 
owned in Portland and had made several trips here with coal for E. 
W. Perry & Co. 

October 1st, schooner "William Capes," Kelley, from New York 
to Boston, with a load of coal, struck on Tuckernuck Shoal and sank 
shortly afterwards. The crew, after being in the rigging about four 
hours, were taken off by a boat's crew from Tuckernuck, and landed 
on Eel Point. The vessel was owned by the captain and his two sons 



89 

and was uninsured. She was stripped of sails and running rigging 
and proved a total loss. 

October 19th, bark "R. H. Purinton," Crossley, of Providence, 
from Boston to Liverpool, with a cargo of 21,794 bushels of corn and 
2000 barrels of flour, having been blown off her course, sprang a leak 
and her pumps becoming choked, she was abandoned some ten or fif- 
teen miles from the South Shoal lightship, which the crew reached late 
in the afternoon. After receiving valuable instructions from Capt. 
James, they set out the next morning, hoping to reach Hyannis, in or- 
der to telegraph, but the wind dying out, they were compelled to row 
all day and finally landed at Sankaty. The vessel was valued at 
$20,000 and her cargo at $25,000. 

November 30th, schooner "Mary Louise," Captain Edward Lov- 
ell,from a port near New York, bound to Boston, with a load of coal, 
struck on Tuckernuck Shoal. The crew, five in number, took to their 
boat, and after three hours' hard pulling, were picked up by a passing 
schooner. The vessel went to pieces, only her spars and rigging be- 
ing saved. 

1877. 

January 9th, at 2 o'clock in the morning, schooner "Caroline 
C," Dow, of Tremont, Me., with a cargo of coal, anchored off Sia- 
sconset in distress, having had all her sails but the jib blown away, 
her main boom broken, and lost her boat. A part of her cargo had 
been thrown overboard. The next day steamer "Island Home" went 
to her assistance and towed her into Woods Hole. 

March 9th, bark "W. F. Marshall," Capt. James H. Wright, of 
and for St. Johns, N. B., from Hampton Roads, in ballast, came 
ashore in the morning at the south side of the island near the head of 
Mioxes Pond, in a thick fog, driving well up on the beach. The first 
intimation they had of being in shoal water was on entering the 
breakers, when they immediately struck. They could make no land 
and until hailed by the patrol on the beach, considered themselves up- 
on some shoal just inside the South Shoal lightship. A line, with a 
sling attached, was made fast from the vessel to the shore, and the 
crew, fourteen in number, also the wife and child of the steward, who 
were on board at the time, were safely landed, with the assistance of 
the patrolmen from Surfside life-saving station. The vessel was sold 
at auction to James Powers, of Boston, for $185, and her spars for 
$25. She was subsequently purchased by Messrs. Gibson and Bartlett, 
of Boston, at a large advance upon the first price. Active prepara- 
tions were made for getting her off and everything looked favorable, 
but on the 1st and 2d of July heavy gales caused the bark to heel so 
badly that all hope of getting her off was abandoned. A large amount 
of money was expended upon her and comparatively nothing received 



90 

in return. After wrecking her so far as profitable, she was burned 
September 23. She was a new vessel of 945 tons. 

March 2l9t, Italian bark "Papa Luigi C," Capt. G. Romano, 
from Girgenti, Sicily, to Boston, with a cargo of 720 tons of brim- 
stone and 100 barrels of wine, came ashore at the south side of the 
island, about half a mile east of the "W. F. Marshall." The crew 
landed in their own boat, with the assistance of one of the patrolmen 
on the beach, who had signalled them with his light. The xsea was 
running pretty high at the time and the boat was brought broadside on 
by the waves. One or two of the men fell over into the water, but 
were rescued by ready hands, and the whole party were taken to Surf- 
side life-saving station, where they received every attention. A few 
of the crew could speak some English, and from them it was learned 
that at 4 p. m. that day they made the South Shoal lightship, bearing 
E. S. E. from them. The weather was thick, but had lighted up at 
the time of seeing the lightboat. It shut down thick again and the 
vessel soon thumped heavily. A boat was lowered and five of the men 
got into her, when she capsized. Three of them were hauled up along- 
side; the other two were swept astern by the strong current, but were 
saved by throwing over life-preservers attached to long lines, which 
drifted down to them. The boat was lost during the excitement. The 
bark soon got clear, but was found to be leaking, having about three 
feet of water in the hold. She was put before the wind and struck on 
our shores at 9 p. m. The bark was not quite two years old, was 456 
tons, new measurement, and was owned in Palermo, Italy. She was 
purchased by the same parties who bought the "W. F. Marshall," 
stripped of sails and rigging, and the greater part of the wine gotten 
out. March 30th, Henry H. Nickerson, a member of the life-saving 
crew, while at work on the vessel, fell from the maintopsail yard to 
the deck, killing himself almost instantly. During a severe storm in 
October of the following year the vessel broke up and her bottom 
eventually landed on Tuckernuck. 

May 16th, schooner "Marietta Tilton," with a load of coal, was 
run into in the night by steamer "Harrisburg, " in the vicinity of the 
Cross Rip lightboat and sunk. The captain and wife, mate and wife, 
steward and one hand were drowned. Two men succeeded in getting 
aboard the "Harrisburg," and were carried into Vineyard Haven. 
One of the men saved was picked up by a boat from the Cross Rip 
lightship. 

September 21st, schooner, "Chase," Ingraham, of and from 
Rockland, Me., for New York, with a cargo of lime, parted from her 
anchorage during a gale and drove on to Great Point. Her crew land- 
ed safely. A company of wreckers from here contracted to land her 
cargo at 25 cents a barrel. 




BARK W. F. MARSHALL 
Ashore near Mioxes Pond (looking west). 




inu A'. !■'. Marshall (looking ea&t) which became a total wrtck. 



Photos by Freeman. 



91 

November 13th, fishing schooner "Charles Kelley" of Dennisport, 
stranded on Coatue flats while entering the harbor. She was hauled 
off by steamer Island Home on the 17th. 

1878. 

January 3d, schooner "Frederick Fish," of St. George, Me., 
Capt. James H. Davis, from New York for Boston, with a cargo of 
coal, struck on Stone Horse shoal and sank shortly after. All hands, 
including the captain's wife and two children, took to the yawl boat 
and drifting before the wind brought up on Coatue about noon, the 
mate dying from exposure shortly after leaving the vessel. The sur- 
vivors were discovered and cared for by George and John Fisher, who 
were at Coatue on a gunning trip, else others must have perished. The 
captain and mate were brothers and both Freemasons. The body of 
the latter was taken in charge by Union Lodge and forwarded to his 
late home. 

January 3d, schooner "Mary Ann," from New York for Boston, 
with a cargo of coal, struck on the bar, about noon. She was boarded 
by a crew in the Underwriters' boat from the Cliff, who succeeded in 
working her in as far as the Black flats. Two days later she was 
floated and brought into the harbor. 

January 3d, schooner "Harriet Fuller," Hodgdon, from Eliz- 
abethport, N. J., to Portland, with a cargo of coal, anchored under 
the Cape, parted cables, drove across the sound and stranded on Great 
Point Rip at daybreak. Edward Coffin, assistant keeper at the light- 
house, dragged a dory half a mile across the beach and rescued the 
crew of four with great difficulty, being obliged to make two trips to 
the vessel. They were cared for at the lighthouse. The vessel was 
subsequently stripped and broke up. 

January 6th, schooner "John D. Williams," from New York > 
bound to Boston with 850 tons of coal, was sighted from the tower 
disabled in Muskeget channel, with signals of distress flying. A boat's 
crew, consisting of Jonathan O. Freeman, Alexander C. Swain, John 
M. Winslow and John W. Macy, boarded steamer Verbena, anchored at 
the bar, and she went to her assistance, arriving just ahead of steam- 
er Monohansett, and towed her to Edgartown. 

March 29th, schooner "John Farnum," Snow, with a cargo of 
ice, from St. George, Me., to Philadelphia, parted her chains and drove 
ashore at Tuckernuck during a heavy northwest gale. She was board- 
ed by a boat from that island and her crew taken off. The vessel was 
25 years old and proved a total loss, but her sails, spars and rigging 
were saved. 

May 20th, schooner "Commerce," Janvrin, from Baracoa, Cuba, 
for Boston, with a cargo of 2200 bunches of bananas, ran ashore on 



92 

the southwest side of the island, just west of the head of Hummock 
pond, the captain having mistaken Sankaty light for Gay Head. Com- 
ing ashore at high water, she lay well up on the beach. Her cargo was 
discharged on the shore and brought to town, where a portion of it 
was sold at auction on Steamboat wharf and the remainder shipped to 
Boston via Woods Hole. The vessel was subsequently hauled off. 

May 25th, a schooner which proved to be the "Union," lumber- 
laden, was discovered drifting toward the Bar under bare poles. A 
crew manned the Humane Society's boat and started to pull against a 
strong wind and head tide to the disabled craft, then about five miles 
off, but when within half a mile of her, wrecking steamer "Gallatin" 
ran down and took her in tow for Vineyard Haven, but abandoned her 
shortly after, the vessel having rolled over on her beam ends. Steam- 
er Island Home was sent out to her early next morning and found 
her near Tuckernuck shoal with masts and about half her cargo gone. 
Before she could "hook on" the vessel turned completely over and be- 
gan to break up. 

July 26th, Italian bark "Guilia D.," Saioni, of Genoa, Italy, 
from Girgenti to Boston with a cargo of brimstone, struck on the 
"Old Man" about 9 o'clock in the morning, having previously been 
ashore on the inner South Shoal some two hours. The crew, none of 
whom understood English, landed at Tom Nevers Head. The vessel, 
which was insured for $18,000, proved a total wreck. 

September 21st, schooner "David Ames," of Rockland, Me., 
from New York bound to Weymouth, with a cargo of 500 tons of coal, 
struck on Horse Shoe shoal. She was discovered from the tower on 
the morning of the 23d and that and the following day steamers River 
Queen and Island Home alternately made several ineffectual attempts 
to haul her off. Meantime she was supplied with a kedge anchor from 
New Bedford and kedged off on the 26th after throwing overboard 200 
tons of her cargo. 

During a severe storm of wind and rain which raged Saturday and 
Sunday, October 12th and 13th, the following marine disasters oc- 
curred in this vicinity: 

Schooner "Union," Mitchell, from Calais, Me., to New York, 
with a cargo of 400 spars, was run ashore near Sankaty Head light- 
house, Saturday afternoon, breaking in two immediately. The portion 
bearing the masts luckily fell on shore and upon them the captain and 
two men made their way to the land. Two others of the crew were 
drowned in attempting to reach shore. One body, that of the captain's 
brother-in-law, washed ashore a week later. The hulk disappeared 
ere long beneath the shifting sands, where it remained buried until 
1885, when, during a severe storm on December 26 and 27, it was ex- 



93 

humed, tossed about by the waves and finally deposited against the 
bluff. 

Schooner "Clara Jane," Allen, from Lubec, Me., for New York, 
with a cargo of potatoes and herring, anchored off Forked Ponds, Sat- 
urday afternoon, cut away both masts to prevent going ashore and set 
signals of distress. She was boarded Sunday, after several ineffectual 
attempts, by a boat's crew comprising members of the life-saving 
crew and others, who brought the captain ashore, and Monday steamer 
Island Home towed the dismasted vessel to New Bedford. Captain 
Allen reported seeing schooner "Eldorado, " of Ellsworth, Me., go 
into the breakers and all hands take to the rigging, but the vessel soon 
went down, carrying the crew with her. 

Fishing schooner "Quivet, " of Harwich, with one man on board, 
broke from her anchorage at Dennisport, Saturday night, and lost jib 
and rudder. Sunday afternoon she drifted by Great Point and was 
boarded by men in a dory, who ran her ashore. She was hauled off the 
following day and towed back to the Cape. 

Fishing schooner "Albert Steele," of Harwich, broke from her 
anchorage off Deep Hole, Saturday afternoon, drove over Kilpond bar, 
struck on Tuckernuck shoal, drove over, drifted through Muskeget 
channel and sank near Smith's Point opening early Sunday morning. 
The crew escaped in their dory and landed at Madaket about 11 o'clock. 

Fishing smack "Ace of Clubs," 10 tons burthen, Capt. James 
Roach, of Bridgeport, bound to Westerly with 3,000 pounds of blue- 
fish, foundered at her anchors off Muskeget at 8 o'clock Saturday 
evening. The crew, six in number, landed in their boat on one of the 
small islands in that vicinity, where they passed a dreadful night of 
suffering, as it was only by lying face down and clinging to the beach- 
grass that they could prevent themselves being blown into the water. 
They reported that when daylight came there were 14 vessels in sight, 
ashore or sunk. Their vessel went to pieces before their eyes. They 
succeeded in reaching the main island of Muskeget, where they were 
cared for by Stephen Hussey. His boat had gone to pieces during the 
storm and the whole party came to town in the smack's yawl boat the 
following day. 

Schooner "Harry & Fred," of Machias, from St. John, for Phil- 
adelphia, with a cargo of laths, and both masts cut away, was 
boarded in Muskeget channel by a boat's crew from Tuckernuck, who 
came to town for assistance, but before aid could be sent, she was 
sighted by steamer Marthas Vineyard and towed to Vineyard Haven. 

Schooner "Clara Smith," Green, of Rockland, anchored on Nan- 
tucket shoals, dragged across the "Horse Shoe" and sank in 7 fath- 
oms of water. The crew were taken from the rigging 19 hours later 



94 

by a passing steamer and carried to Vineyard Haven, one of the num- 
ber having died from exposure. 

A schooner, apparently a mackerel catcher, with sails furled and 
no one on board, drifted by the east end of the island on Sunday. 

Steamer "River Queen" on her return trip, Monday, brought 
Charles Killeen, of this town, mate and sole survivor of the three- 
masted schooner "Etta A. Stimson," of Thomaston, Me., wrecked 
near Cape Poge. Mr. Killeen was taken from the rigging at 7 o'clock 
Monday morning, having been exposed there 35 hours. Two of the 
crew were washed overboard when the vessel was hove down, in con- 
sequence of her cargo of ice shifting, and two were drowned in at- 
tempting to launch the boat. The captain's wife died about 4 o'clock 
Sunday afternoon and one by one the remainder of the crew were 
washed overboard and lost, leaving only the captain and Mr. Killeen 
clinging to the rigging. The captain died about 3 o'clock Monday 
morning. Steamers Island Home and River Qaeen eventually succeed- 
ed in towing the vessel into Vineyard Haven harbor and righting her, 
after pulling out her masts as she lay on her beam ends. November 
15th the vessel was towed to Thomaston, in charge of Mr. Killeen. 

During the blow the cargo of Italian bark "Papa Luigi C," 
wrecked off Surfside in 1877, washed out and the vessel broke up. 
Her bottom eventually brought up on Tuckernuck. 

A week later a lumber- laden vessel was discovered bottom up- 
ward near Tuckernuck. A gang of wreckers from that island cut a 
hole through her bottom, took out some 35,000 feet of lumber and 
landed it on Muskeget. The vessel proved to be schooner "Alvarado," 
of Ellsworth, Me., and was doubtless the one (reported at the time as 
"Eldorado") which the "Clara Jane" saw strike on the "Old Man" 
in the gale of the 12th, at which time the crew were probably all lost. 

December 20th, brig "Josefa," Capt. B. S. Irue, from Turk's 
Island for Portland, Me., with a cargo of salt, grounded off Capaum 
Pond, in consequence of mistaking Brant Point light for that of Hand- 
kerchief shoal lightship. She was kedged off the following day, after 
throwing overboard a portion of her cargo. 

December 26th, schooner "Ann Amelia, " Capt. Joseph Virge, 
from New York to St. Pierre, near Newfoundland, with 700 barrels 
of flour, 250 of general provisions and miscellaneous merchandise, in- 
cluding a number of stoves, went ashore in the Chord of the Bay at 
10 o'clock in the evening during a thick snow squall. The crew made 
their way through the water to the shore and seeing a light, which 
proved to be Brant Point, the captain took two men and travelled tow- 
ards it until they reached the end of Coatue, when their further prog- 
ress was stayed by the watery barrier. Retracing their steps to the 
vessel, the two men, having become exhausted, were left and the cap- 



95 

tain and mate succeeded in reaching Great Point lighthouse, where 
they were kindly cared for, and the following day assistance was sum- 
moned from town. The cargo was landed on the beach and subse- 
quently carted to town. The vessel was floated the following May. 

1879. 

During a violent storm of wind and rain, March Slst, the follow- 
ing marine disasters occurred in this vicinity : 

Three-masted schooner "Emma G. Edwards," Capt. Richard 
Bryant, of Camden, N. J., from Philadelphia to Boston, with a cargo 
of coal, dragged from her anchorage near Chatham to Tuckernuck 
Shoal, where she struck and rolled over on her beam ends, and but one 
of her crew survived to tell the story. The others were either washed 
overboard or perished from exposure lashed in the rigging. The sur- 
vivor and two bodies were taken from the rigging and brought to town 
by a boat's crew from Tuckernuck. 

Schooner "J. W. Hall," Clouting, bound from New York to 
Lynn, with 339 tons of coal, anchored in the sound, parted both chains 
and drove ashore on Muskeget. Her crew, six in number, were taken 
off and landed on Tuckernuck. 

Schooner "Jefferson Borden," 561 tons burthen, Capt. Jones, 
from Cuba to Boston with a cargo of 700 hogsheads of sugar, dragged 
from her anchorage in the sound and went ashore on Muskeget. 

Schooner "Convoy," French, from Rockland, Me., to New York, 
with a cargo of lime, went ashore near the "Jefferson Borden." The 
crew were taken off by Isaac P. Dunham and a boat's crew of four 
and landed on Tuckernuck. She was stripped of sails, rigging and 
effects, but the lime took fire and the vessel burned to the water's 
edge. 

Schooner "American Chief," Snow, from Rockland, Me., to New 
York with a cargo of lime, lost anchors and chains and went ashore on 
Muskeget. 

Schooner "Emma," Howard, of and for St. John, N. B., with a 
cargo of coal, lost anchors and chains and went ashore on Muskeget. 

Schooner "Daniel Brittain," of Somers Point, N. J., bound from 
Boston to Philadelphia, light, and schooner "Alice Oaks," Beal, from 
South Amboy to Boston with a cargo of coal, went ashore on Great 
Point about 8 a. m. Both had dragged from their anchorage, the 
former from the Cape, the latter from inside Great Point. 

Schooner "Andrew H. Edwards," loaded with gas coal, went 
ashore near Muskeget and rolled over on her beam ends, the saa mak- 
ing a clean breach over her. The crew took to the rigging and were 
rescued in an exhausted condition and with great difficulty by a boat's 
crew from Tuckernuck. 



96 

Brig "Manzanilla, " Rich, of Calais, Me., bound to New York 
with a cargo of lumber, anchored off Low Beach, sprang a leak and 
was run ashore. A bluefish line was thrown over the vessel and by 
this means a rope was drawn off and secured to one of the masts. 
When the first man attempted to come ashore the rope parted between 
him and the vessel. He clung to the line, however, and was drawn 
ashore through the breakers. A hatchet head was then made fast to 
another small line, thrown over the vessel and another rope hauled off 
by means of which the remainder of the crew came ashore. The ves- 
sel soon after broke in two and went to pieces. 

Schooner "William D. Cargil" of Providence, R. I., Capt. Rich 
(a cousin of the above) was also anchored off Low Beach, having lost 
main boom and all her sails. Her masts were cut away to keep her 
afloat. She rode out the storm safely and was towed to Vineyard Haven 
April 13th, by steamer Island Home. 

Of the above vessels, the "Jefferson Borden," after being light- 
ered of her cargo, was floated April 8th, and towed to Vineyard Ha- 
ven by steamer Island Home. 

The "American Chief" was also floated on the 8th after throw- 
ing overboard 900 barrels of lime. 200 barrels were saved and brought 
to town. 

The "Andrew H. Edwards," after being lightered of her cargo, 
was pumped out and hauled off May 20th by Vineyard parties, to whom 
she had been sold, and towed to New Bedford by steamer Marthas 
Vineyard. 

The "Alice Oaks" was purchased by Capt. Asa W. N. Small, 
and after a portion of her cargo had been taken out, was hauled off 
May 8th and towed in to the Straight wharf where the balance of her 
cargo was discharged. Temporary repairs were made and she was 
towed to Boston the following day. 

The "Daniel Brittain," after several unsuccessful attempts, was 
screwed up and launched from temporary ways June 16th. On leaving 
the ways the vessel struck bottom and jumped out one of her masts, 
which had been struck by lighting and splintered that morning. 

Some forty shipwrecked mariners were landed and cared for in 
town. The rescue of these crews was effected with great difficulty 
and in several instances at imminent risk of life. The Massachusetts 
Humane Society awarded $25 each to Thomas F. Sandsbury and boat's 
crew of seven, also a silver medal to Capt. Sandsbury, and $15 each 
to Isaac P. Dunham and boat's crew of four. The U. S. Government 
likewise awarded Capt. Sandsbury a gold medal and each of his boat's 
crew a silver one. Bodies were picked up from time to time at vari- 
ous points on the island, one of which was identified as the mate of 
the Emma G. Edwards. 



97 

April 14th, schooner "Clara Clinton," bound in here with a car- 
go of coal from wrecked schooner J, W. Hall, sprung a leak when off 
the bar and was run ashore on Brant Point to keep her from sinking. 
She was later pumped out and worked up to the wharf. 

December 20th, schooner "Nathan Clifford," Coombs, of Belfast, 
Me., from Perth Amboy, N. J., to Cambridge, Mass., with a cargo 
of coal, went ashore on Great Point. She was gotten off with assis- 
tance of parties from shore and anchored, but during a storm the fol- 
lowing day again drove ashore. About 40 tons of coal was discharged 
in boats and brought to town and the vessel was hauled off. 

1880. 

March 28th, schooner "West Wind," with a cargo of ice, and no 
one on board, drove ashore on the back side of Coatue and as her boats 
were missing it was surmised that her crew had abandoned her and 
perished. It transpired, however, that they had been rescued by a 
passing vessel and carried to New York. The "West Wind" was 
bound from Bath, Me., to Nev Haven, when she became disabled on 
Nantucket shoals, and having sprung a leak and became unmanageable, 
was abandoned. She was stripped of sails, rigging, etc., and even- 
tually went to pieces, 

June 8th, three-masted schooner "H. W. Foster," Wiley, bound 
to Washington, D. C, with a cargo of ice, stranded on Tuckernuck 
shoal. After throwing overboard part of her cargo she was hauled 
off by steamer Island Home and towed to Vineyard Haven. 

July 13th, schooner "David Ames" from New York to Boston, 
with 500 tons of coal, was run into and sunk near Handkerchief shoal. 
Her crew were taken off by a passing vessel. 

October 7th, schooner "Adawanda," of and for St. John, N. B., 
from New York, with an assorted cargo, drove on to Great Point Rip 
in a heavy gale and unshipped her rudder. She was gotten off on the 
11th, with assistance of parties from shore, and run down to the bar, 
where her rudder was replaced and she proceeded on her voyage. 

1881. 

January 12th, brig "Lije Houghton," Dolan, from Cape Breton 
to Boston with a load of gas coal, struck on Bass Rip at 1 o'clock in 
the morning in a thick snow storm and bilged. The crew, eleven all 
told, left her about an hour later and landed at Siasconsetat 8 o'clock. 
The brig was 404 tons burthen and belonged in Portland. 

During a protracted ice blockade from the last of January to the 
middle of February, steamer Island Home, an English steamship and 
eight sailing vessels were imprisoned in the ice at the north of the 
island for many days, and several were driven ashore on Great Point 
by one tide, to be floated off by the next. Two of the number, however. 



98 

left their bones on our shores. The Island Home, in attempting to 
force her way through the ice to this port on the 29th of January, be- 
came hemmed in by heavy ice floes just back of the bar and was un- 
able to advance or return until the 10th of February. Meantime the 
ice became so compact that men and teams passed to and fro between 
the shore and steamer and five head of cattle on board were driven 
ashore on the ice. The steamer was coaled from shore and on the 
10th of February the ice had softened sufficiently to enable her to 
force her way through to open water and return to Woods Hole. As 
the ice softened and broke up the English steamship and five of the 
imprisoned vessels worked clear, viz.: Schooners "A. H. Waite" and 
"Trade Wind," from Portland to New York, the former with lumber, 
the latter with lime; "Edward H. Norton," from Wellfleet to Chesa- 
peake Bay for oysters; "Speedwell," from Rockland, Me., to New 
York with lime; "Eddie Pierce," from Boston to Norfolk with an as- 
sorted cargo. 

Three-masted schooner "U. B. Fisk," Crowell, of Boston, bound 
to Charleston, S. C, with a cargo of 670 tons of guano, stranded on 
Great Point Rip, January 30th. The crew and captain's wife, who 
was on board, landed in their boat through the ice with the assistance 
of parties on shore, but for whose aid they would undoubtedly have 
perished. A portion of the cargo was saved and the vessel was 
stripped and eventually broke up. 

Schooners "Almeda," Smith, of and from Portland, bound to 
New York with a cargo of lumber, drove ashore on Muskeget. A por- 
tion of her cargo was disharged on the ice, which, when the wind 
shifted, let go from the shore and drifted out to sea. Some of the 
lumber was later picked up in the Chord of the Bay. The vessel was 
sold at auction as she lay for $107 to Joseph H. Perry, who subse- 
quently sold her to Asa W. N. Small, Richard E. Burgess and John 
M. Winslow for a small advance. They succeeded in floating her the 
following April, took her to Boston and sold her. 

Schooner "J. W Carver," Walls, of Ellsworth, Me, from New 
York to Portland, with 250 tons of coal, went ashore on Muskeget. 
A portion of her cargo was saved and the vessel stripped of everything 
of value. Her captain reported seeing a boat's crew in the ice car- 
ried through Muskeget channel. 

February 12th, brig "R. M. Helsen," Mc'Nugent, from Pensa- 
cola for Boston, with 850 bales of cotton, in attempting to run in for 
an anchorage under Great Point, stranded on the east end of the Bar. 
A crew in the underwriters' boat went to her assistance with wreck- 
ing gear and succeeded in floating her about midnight. 

February 14th, bark "Hazard," Roberts, of Salem from Sierra 



99 

Leone, coast of Africa, bound to Boston, with a cargo of hides valued 
at $35,000, struck on the "Old Man" at 1 a. m. and after pounding 
heavily for half an hour worked over into deep water leaking badly. 
The crew pumped till daylight, when the captain, mate and two seamen, 
left her in the only boat to seek assistance. Meantime a small raft 
had been constructed and moored astern, and upon this, as the water 
was gaining fast, the second mate and one man sought refuge soon af- 
ter the boat left, the remainder of the crew preferring to take their 
chance on the vessel. Scarcely had the raft cast off, however, when 
the vessel began to settle rapidly. Just before she sank one man 
jumped overboard and succeeded in reaching the raft. The others per- 
ished in making the attempt. The boat's crew landed at Maddeque- 
cham late in the afternoon in an exhausted condition. They were 
brought to town and kindly cared for, but their versions regarding 
their leaving the vessel were conflicting and created an unfavorable 
impression, and their statement that a raft had been built upon which 
those left behind could take refuge if need be was generally discredit- 
ed. Nevertheless, steamer Island Home went out next morning and 
cruised all day among the shoals in a fruitless search for possible sur- 
vivors and all were given up for lost. Two months later supply steam- 
er Verbena on her return from South Shoal lightship brought two sur- 
vivors, the second mate and one seaman, who had drifted about for 
thirty-four hours on a frail raft, almost wholly submerged by their 
weight, until carried by wind and tide within a few miles of the light- 
ship, when they were seen and rescued, half dead from cold and ex- 
haustion. The third man, who swam from the ship, had died from 
exhaustion and his body was lashed to the raft. Their sufferings had 
been terrible and their escape from death in the rips miraculous. The 
Island Home in her search passed within a short distance of, but failed 
to see them. 

August 24th, at 11 p. m., schooner "Charlotte Jameson," of 
Rockland, Me., from Windsor, N. S., to Newburgh, N.Y,, with 500 
tons stone plaster, struck on Great Rip during a dense fog, pounded 
over the shoal and began to fill. The crew took to their boats at day- 
break, but hung on until afternoon, when, as the vessel was breaking 
up, they cut adrift and landed at Surfside at 6 p. m. 

September 23d, brigantine "Mary E.Dana," Saunders, of Salem, 
from St. Martins, W. I., to Boston, with a partial cargo of 2,000 
bushels of salt, ran on to the end of Great Point during the evening in 
a dense fog. She was floated next day, after throwing overboard a 
portion of her cargo, with the assistance of a wrecking crew from town, 
and proceeded to Boston. 

October 4th and 5th, during a severe gale which lasted two days, 
acompanied by a low temperature and occasional snow flurries, the fol- 
lowing disasters occurred in this vicinity : 



100 

Schooner "Malabar," of and for Belfast, Me., from New York, 
with a cargo of coal, stranded on the Bar, and was abandoned by the 
crew, five in number, who put off in a leaky boat, which must have 
foundered before reaching shore. They were met and rescued by a 
crew in the life boat which put off to their assistance from the Cliff 
shore when the vessel struck. She was stripped of spars and rigging 
and a portion of her cargo was saved, but the vessel eventually went 
to pieces. 

Three-masted schooner "Edwin I. Morrison," 534 tons burthen, 
Capt. Lavender, bound to Philadelphia in ballast, drove on to Coatue 
flats. She was floated after several days' labor by a wrecking crew 
and towed into the harbor, by steamer Island Home, the salvors re- 
ceiving $710 for their assistance. 

Schooner "Eliza J. Raynor, " of Oyster Bay, N. Y., light, went 
ashore in the Chord of the Bay. She was floated three days later with 
the assistance of parties from shore. 

Schooner "H. S. Billins," of Ellsworth, Me., loaded with coal, 
went ashore on Great Point. The crew abandoned her in the sound 
leaking badly, and boarded a passing vessel. A portion of her cargo 
was saved and brought to town, but the vessel was a total loss. 

Schooner "G. F. Hathaway," of St. John, N. B., with a cargo 
of stone, foundered at her anchors a few miles from Handkerchief 
lightship and sank. The crew took to their boat and landed at Sia- 
sconset. 

Schooner "R. Baker, Jr.," Robinson, from New York, for 
Thomaston, Me., with 111 tons of coal, drove on the Bar at 8 o'clock 
in the evening of the 5th and sank. Her crew were taken from the 
rigging at midnight well nigh exhausted, by a boat's crew from shore. 
When the vessel struck, a kerosene lamp hanging in the cabin exploded, 
burning out the whole interior. The greater porion of her cargo was 
saved, likewise her spars and rigging, and her hull was sold at auction 
for $37. 

October 19th, schooner "Frank M. Noyes," Barry, of and for 
Boston, from Baracoa, Cuba, with a cargo of bananas and cocoanuts, 
came ashore at the west end of the island opposite Hither Creek, in 
consequence of mistaking Sankaty light for Gay Head. She was sight- 
ed from Madaket shortly after daylight by James Small and sons, who 
loaded their dory on a cart and started to render assistance. A line 
thrown from the vessel was secured, made fast to the tail of the cart 
and hauled taut. By means of this Leander and James V. Small, at 
great personal risk and difficulty, hauled their dory off to the vessel 
and took off the captain from the bowsprit. He came to town for as- 
sistance and the vessel was kedged off the following day and proceed- 
ed to Boston. The salvors received $750. 



101 

November 21st, brig "Bonnie Leslie," from Prince Edward's 
Island to New York, with 7,300 bushels of potatoes, struck on Great 
Rip, filled and rolled over. The crew abandoned her and boarded a 
fishing smack, which landed them here the following day. The Bonnie 
Leslie was a new vessel just off the stocks. 

1882. 

February 10th, brig "Laura R. Burnham," 700 tons burthen, 
Kelley, of and for Boston from Java, with 28,000 baskets of sugar, 
struck on Great Rip, but after pounding awhile got off, anchored about 
8 miles off Sankaty and set signals of distress, which were not seen 
until the folllowing day. Steamer Island Home started to her assis- 
tance at 4 o'clock the next morning, but on her arrival found the ves- 
sel had been boarded from Quidnet during the night by a wrecking 
crew consisting of Asa W. Small, Edward P. Norcross, William J. 
Burgess, Frank A. Mitchell, George E. Coffin, John S. Appleton, Jr., 
Robert K. Appleton, Frederick C. Marvin, Warren S. Manter, James 
H. Gibbs, 2d, and John Norcross, in the Humane Society's boat, who 
assisted in working her to Boston, for which they received $2,000. 

February 10th, three-masted schooner "Thomas D.Harrison," of 
New York, from Bath, Me., bound to Baltimore, with a cargo of ice, 
struck on Stone Horse shoal and was abandoned by the crew, who 
reached the lightship with difficulty. She was sighted from the tower 
the following day and shortly afterward rolled over on her beam ends. 
On the 20th her nearly submerged hull was sighted drifting near Great 
Point and reported to steamer Island Home, which towed her stern 
first to the bar, where she grounded. As it was found impracticable 
to attempt to right her, she was stripped of spars and effects and even- 
tually went to pieces. 

March 27th, bark "Alumina," bound to Woods Hole with phos- 
phate rock for the guano works, went ashore in Muskeget channel. 
She was floated April 3d after throwing overboard her cargo. 

May 8th, schooner "E. W. Bentley," McCloud, from Baracoa to 
Boston with bananas and cocoanuts, mistook Great Point light for that 
on Handkerchief lightship and ran ashore on the point at midnight. 
The vessel was kedged off on the morning of the 10th. 

June 1st, bark "J. S. Winslow, " Morton, from Perth Amboy, 
N. J., to Portland, Me., with a cargo of coal, sank 30 miles south of 
Nantucket, in consequence of the cargo shifting. The crew took to 
their boat and landed at Surfside. 

July 13th, schooner "Rennie J. Carlton," Bassett, from Balti- 
more to Boston with coal, was wrecked off Nantucket. The crew 
reached Pollock Rip lightship in their boat and were taken to Hyannis 
next day. 



102 

September 10th, three-masted schooner "Annie L. Henderson," 
428- tons burthen, Capt. Isaac Fountain, of and for Boston, from Ap- 
palachicola, Fla., with a cargo of yellow pine flooring, struck on Rose 
and Crown shoal in thick weather. A portion of her cargo was thrown 
overboard, but the vessel sprang a leak and filled and the crew aban- 
doned her in their boat, landing at Wauwinet. During a storm the 
following night the vessel came off the shoal and was seen from the 
tower next day drifting about some 15 miles off the south of the isl- 
and. A boat's crew was mustered in the afternoon, who boarded fish- 
ing smack "Ospray," lying off Tom Nevers Head, and started next 
morning in search of the derelict, which they sighted some 12 miles 
off, after passing the South Shoal lightship. By this time the wind 
died away to a dead calm, but nothing daunted, the party from shore 
and three of the smack's crew took to the boat and rowed the inter- 
vening distance. On reaching the vessel they found her boarded by 
the crew of a passing collier who were about to strip and set fire to 
her as a dangerous obstruction to navigation. A bargain was struck 
whereby they gave her up to the new-comers, who made sail on her, 
and with the assistance of the smack worked her in to New London, 
which they reached on the night of the 20th. 

September 17th, schooner "Mary Hawes," Piper, of Camden, 
Me., from Rockport to New York, with 750 barrels of lime, lost an- 
chors and chains in the sound and stranded on the Bar at daybreak. 
Wreckers took out 200 casks of lime, pumped the vessel out and 
brought her in to the wharf leaking badly. 

October 26th, schooner "Antoinette M. Aiken, "of Vineyard Ha- 
ven, Capt. Hiram Daggett, anchored near the bar with a cargo of stone 
for the jetty, was struck by a heavy flaw of wind, and careened, caus- 
ing her deck load to shift to leeward and she immediately rolled over 
and sank. Her crew escaped in their boat. The following March, 
her cargo having probably worked out, she came to the surface and 
drifted on to Coatue flats. 

October 28th, schooner "Nimble," of Nova Scotia, from Prince 
Edwards Island to New Bedford, with a cargo of 2,700 bushels of po- 
tatoes, ran aground near Muskeget and bilged. 500 bushels of pota- 
toes were brought to town and sold at auction for $200, and her sails, 
anchors, chains, etc., for $460. The vessel was sold as she lay for 
$37 and the balance of her cargo for $26, She was eventually kedged 
over the shoals into deep water and towed into the harbor by four sail- 
boats December 18th, her masts having been previously cut away. 
She was refitted and sold the following summer. 

1883. 
May 6th, British steamship "Cydonia, " Capt. Essom, from New 
York for St. John, N. B., in ballast, went ashore on Smith's Point, 



103 

just east of the "opening," at 1 o'clock in the morning. Anchors, 
cables and wrecking gear were carried from town and with the joint 
assistance of steamers River Queen and Marthas Vineyard she was 
hauled off at 7 o'clock the evening of the 7th. The Cydonia was an 
iron steamship of 1,090 tons register, owned in North Shields, Eng- 
land, and lay in a very precarious condition. She was libelled by the 
salvors, who were awarded $5,000 in the U. S. District Court at 
Baltimore. 

May 12th, schooner "T. S. McClellan," White, of and for Port- 
land from Philadelphia, with a cargo of coal, went ashore on Hand- 
kerchief shoal. She was boarded by a boat's crew from here, who 
found her in charge of a party of wreckers from the Cape, who were 
stripping her. 

September 6th, schooner "Frank," from Kennebeck bound to 
Newport with box boards, went ashore on Muskeget Rip, but was sub- 
sequently gotten off, with the assistance of the life-saving crew. 

October 2d, brig "Tally Ho," Lambert, of Machias, Me., from 
Philadelphia to Boston with a cargo of coal, was sunk by collision 
with U. S. steamer "Pinta," near Cross Rip lightship, at 8 o'clock 
in the evening. The crew were picked up after being adrift in their 
boats 14 hours and carried to Vineyard Haven. 

November 28th, schooner "Martha Innis," Kelley, of Lynn, from 
Port Johnson, N. J., to Boston, with 360 tons of coal, ran ashore on 
Great Point in the evening. She was stripped of sails and 175 tons 
of her cargo had been discharged in boats, when she was hauled off 
December 9th by tug Confidence and towed to Hyannis. 

December 3d, abandoned schooner "Anna Currier," of and for 
St. John, N. B., from New York with a cargo of meal, flour, pork, 
groceries, glassware, kerosene, etc., was boarded from Quidnet by 
parties in the Humane Society's boat. Her log, written up to 12 p. 
m. of the 2d, showed that she was then anchored near Pollock Rip, 
the wind blowing heavily, and it was conjectured that she parted from 
her anchors and that her crew took to their boat and perished. The 
vessel was unmanageable in consequence of injury to her rudder, but 
schooner "W. O. Nettleton," with a wrecking crew on board, came 
to their assistance shortly after and towed her to the Bar, where she 
was partially lightered and towed into the harbor later in the day. 
The salvors were awarded 25 per cent, of the value of vessel and 
cargo, which was estimated at about $10,000. 

1884. 

February 20th, brig "Merriwa," Capt. J. S. Adams, from South 
Amboy for Boston with 420 tons of coal, parted one of her cables in 
the sound and dragged ashore on Great Point, in the evening. Her 



104 

crew were taken oflf about midnight by the Coskata station crew. Af- 
ter the vessel was stripped of spars and rigging and a portion of her 
cargo taken out, her hull, with the balance of the coal remaining, was 
sold at auction for $125. 

March 30th, schooner "Adel," Childs, of and from Falmouth to 
Nantucket, loaded with cord wood, ran on the end of Brant Point dur- 
ing a severe snow storm. Her deck load was discharged on the point 
and she was hauled off a few days later, but slightly damaged. 

March 31st, schooner "Vashti R. Gates," Warnock, of Calais, 
Me., with 160 tons of coal, from Hoboken, N. J., for Red Beach, 
Me., came ashore at Siasconset in the forenoon. She had parted from 
her moorings under Chatham during a northwest gale, run over and 
anchored under Sankaty, where she soon after parted her small anchor. 
The crew being frost-bitten and exhausted, decided to run her ashore. 
The vessel was stripped by wreckers and most of her cargo landed, the 
salvors receiving 50 per cent. 

June 10th, schooner "Alcora," Galley, of and from Calais, Me., 
for New York, struck on Great Round Shoal. She was towed into 
Vineyard Haven on the 12th full of water. 

November 21st, schooner "Hannah F. Carleton," of Pembroke, 
Maine, for New York, with plaster, grounded on Tuckernuck Shoal 
and was boarded by Captain Alexander B. Dunham, Walter Coleman 
and W. D. Sylvia. Tug Confidence went to her assistance, floating 
her through the day. 

December 19th, Cross Rip Lightship broke from her moorings 
during a heavy northwest gale, and in attempting to enter the harbor 
stranded on the inner bar. Steamer Verbena took off the mate and 
part of her crew the following day. The lightship subsequently got 
off and worked into the harbor. 

December 22d, three-masted schooner "Warren Sawyer," Saun- 
ders, from New Orleans to Boston, with a cargo of 1,115 bales of cot- 
ton and 28 tons of scrap iron, came ashore at Surfside, just west of 
the life-saving station, at 11 o'clock in the evening. Despite the 
darkness a line was fired over the vessel and the crew, who had taken 
refuge in the mizzen rigging, were all safely landed one at a time by 
means of the breeches buoy by midnight. The vessel struck, probably 
on the "Old Man," or Pochick Rip, about 9 o'clock, and the crew 
launched their boat to abandon her, but it was smashed alongside. 
The vessel drove over the shoal, but continued to pound until she 
brought up in the breakers. She worked well in to the beach and 
bilged. Her cargo was landed by means of skids into ox teams, cart- 
ed to the railroad track, carried to town by train, and thence shipped 
to Boston. About 700 bales of cotton had been landed when a severe 
storm, January 6th, caused the vessel to break up and scattered the 




THREE-MASTED SCHOONER WARREN SAWYER ASHORE AT SURFSIDE. 




The Warren Sawyer two weeks later. Surf-side Hotel in the distance at left of picture. 
PhotOB by Freeman. 



105 

remainder of her cargo and effects for miles along the shore. She 
was 360 tons burthen and valued at $10,000. There was $4,000 in- 
surance on her and $55,000 on her cargo. The sails, rigging and 
effects saved were sold at auction for about $600. The wreckers were 
awarded $4.75 per day for their services and 55 per cent. on.. cotton 
saved after the vessel broke up. 

1885. 

February 12th, a fleet of thirty or more vessels left Vineyard 
Haven, bound round the Cape. About a mile west of Cross Rip they 
encountered fields of ice. Some got round to Boston, some returned 
to Vineyard Haven and others made ports on the Cape. Six being un- 
able to proceed or extricate themselves, anchored, but were carried to 
and fro by the ice until Sunday, the 15th, when they were driven on to 
the flats within a mile of Muskeget during a heavy gale and snow 
storm. They were : 

Schooner "Alba," Ackerly, of and for St. John, N. B., from 
New York, with general merchandise. 

Schooner "Lyndon," Thompson, of Calais, Me., from New York 
for Boston, with a cargo of fustic. 

Schooner "H. T. Townsend, " Smith, of Pembroke, from New 
York for Boston with a cargo of mahogany. 

Schooner "Dolly Varden," Brigham, of Machias, Me., from New 
York for Boston with coal. 

Schooner "Charles A. Ropes," Hunt, of Lubec, Me., from New 
York, for Pembroke, with coal. 

Schooner "Sammy Ford," Allen, of Lubec, Me., from Hoboken, 
N. J., for Eastport, Me., with coal. 

It was impossible on account of ice to reach any of these vessels 
until the 17th, when all six crews were rescued with great difficulty 
and risk of life, those of the Townsend, Dolly Varden and Charles A. 
Ropes being taken off by a boat from revenue cutter Gallatin and the 
remainder by the Muskeget life-saving crew. Prior to their rescue 
two boats' crews from Tuckernuck made strenuous, but unsuccessful, 
efforts to reach them and the crew of the Dolly Varden spent one 
night in the rigging. The crew of the Sammy Ford took refuge on 
the Alba and those on the C. A. Ropes were obliged to leave her and 
went on board the Townsend. 

Schooner Alba was floated March 2d, but unshipped her rudder 
and went ashore again. On the 6th the Townsend and Alba were 
hauled off and towed to Vineyard Haven. The other four were sold 
at auction as they lay. A considerable part of their cargoes were 
saved; also sails, rigging and effects, but the vessels went to pieces. 
[One of the crew of schooner Lyndon was shipwrecked here three 



106 

years previous in fruit schooner "Frank M. Noyes." The Charles A. 
Ropes put in here in distress during the October gale of 1881.] 

March 13th, schooner "St. Mary," of this port, a small craft 
running between here and New Bedford, went ashore near Muskeget 
and was totally wrecked. She had gone up after coal from the vessels 
ashore in that vicinity. 

March 29th, three-masted schooner "French Van Gilder," Tom- 
lin, from Gloucester to Port Chester, with a cargo of stone paving 
blocks, struck on Tuckernuck Shoal. Her crew landed on Tuckernuck 
in their own boat after unavailing attempts had been made to reach 
them in the teeth of a heavy gale by the Muskeget life-saving crew 
and a boat's crew from Tuckernuck. She was subsequently stripped 
of sails and rigging. Vessel and cargo were a total loss. 

April 29th, during a severe storm which raged through the night, 
four vessels were driven ashore here, viz : 

Brig "Nyanza," Stuart, from Cienfuegos, Cuba, to Portland 
with a cargo of sugar, went ashore in the Chord of the Bay, but was 
floated the follovying night, with the assistance of a wrecking party 
from town and taken to Vineyard Haven, whence she was towed to 
Boston by a tug. 

Schooner "Grace Gushing," Drinkwater, of Portland, Me., from 
Elizabethport, N. J., to Yarmouth, Me., with 228 tons of coal, went 
ashore near the above. She was floated by a wrecking crew May 2d, 
after throwing overboard part of her cargo, and taken to Vineyard 
Haven. 

Schooner "Alice Oaks," Tobin, of Portland, Me., from Perth 
Amboy, N.J., to Hallowell, Me., with 252 toons of coal, went ashore 
on the north side of the island off Capaum pond. Her crew took to 
the rigging and after a night of extreme suffering and danger, as the 
vessel began to break up, were rescued from their perilous position by 
a crew in the Underwriters' boat, which put off from the Cliff shore. 
The vessel was stripped and a considerable portion of her cargo saved 
before she went to pieces. [This vessel was one of several which 
went ashore here March 31, 1879.] 

Schooner "Adell Truesdell," Fidler, which left this port earlier 
in the day, went ashore near Tuckernuck, but was floated the following 
day with the assistance of the Muskeget life-saving crew. 

May 13th, schooner "Joseph G. Stover," Arey, from Bermuda 
for Bucksport, Me., in ballast, with a family of four persons as pas- 
sengers, stranded on Great Point Rip in the evening, owing to thick 
weather. She was floated on the 15th by a wrecking company from 
town. 

August 25th, schooner "Oregon," Capt. Abner Gott, bound from 



107 

Bay View to New Bedford with a cargo of granite curbing, struck on 
Great Point Rip at midnight, drove over and anchored, but the sea 
was so rough as to necessitate beaching her to prevent foundering and 
she was run ashore near Wauwinet. Her cargo was sold to Frank A. 
Mitchell and a portion of it is the present curbing in Gay street. The 
vessel was broken up and some of her timbers used in building one of 
the summer cottages at Wauwinet. 

December 9th, schooner "Austen Locke," Peters, of Lockeport, 
N. S., bound from Anguilla to Portland with a cargo of salt, went 
ashore at the south side of the island near Miacomet pond during the 
night. The Surfside life-saving crew got a line over the vessel and 
all hands were landed by means of the breeches buoy. About 1,500 
bushels of salt had been discharged when the vessel broke up. 

December 26th, during a severe gale, schooner "Ellen R.," of 
Dennis, (the New Bedford packet) with a cargo of empty barrels, an- 
chored in the harbor, parted her chains and drove ashore high and dry 
on the South Beach. She was subsequently hauled off. 

1886. . 

January 10th, (Sunday) three-masted schooner "T. B. Wither- 
spoon," of Rockport, Me., Capt. Alfred H. Anderson, bound from 
Surinam to Boston, with a cargo of molasses, sugar, cocoa, pickled 
limes and spices, came ashore at the south side of the island near the 
head of Little Mioxes Pond, in a driving snow storm about 5 o'clock 
in the morning. They had experienced heavy weather accompanied by 
thick snow squalls coming on to the coast and had been unable to get 
an observation for several days. Shortly before they struck, they 
sighted Sankaty light between the snow squalls, which they mistook 
for Montauk and shaped their course accordingly until they brought 
up in the breakers. Despite the severe cold, the mercury standing at 
16 degrees, hundreds of citizens hastened to the shore as soon as news 
of the disaster reached town, and remained on the beach throughout 
the day, powerless to render assistance, while the crew slowly perished 
before their eyes in the rigging or fell into the sea and were drowned. 
Lines were shot over the vessel by the Surfside life-saving crew, but 
the men on board were frozen and powerless to haul off the hawser 
attached. A fearful sea was raging, which rendered it impossible to 
launch a boat. Nevertheless, in the face of almost certain death, a 
life-raft was launched and nine men, Charles E. Smalley, Joseph M. 
Folger, Jr., Benjamin Beekman, Charles W. Cash, John P. Taber, 
William Morris, Horace Orpin, Benjamin Fisher and Everett Coffin, 
attempted to haul off by a small line which had been shot over the 
vessel. Ere they had proceeded far a huge wave broke over the raft, 
knocking two overboard — who, however, clung to the raft and were 
hauled on board— and drenching the rest to the skin. The shock 



108 

snapped the line and the raft was hauled back to land by a rope which 
had been paid out from shore. In the afternoon a sixth and success- 
ful attempt with the mortar gun planted a line squarely across the 
vessel's bow and it was secured to the fore-rigging. By this time 
there were but two active men to be seen on board. To this line was 
attached a running block with a line rove through, the ends of which 
were retained on shore, and by this means a large hawser was hauled 
off to the vessel by those on the beach. Eventually the two men, more 
dead than alive, were landed after dark by means of the breeches buoy 
and carried to the life-saving station. One of them proved to be the 
mate of the vessel, whose wife and little boy had accompanied him on 
the Toyage and perished before his eyes when the sea broke into the 
cabin. The crew numbered seven all told, and of the nine on board 
all but two perished. Six of the bodies were eventually recovered, 
one being picked up at Siasconset, four washing ashore near Surfside, 
and one encased in ice being taken from the rigging the following 
day. Of the many cases of shipwreck which have occurred on our 
island this is the most harrowing ever known. Others there have been 
where the loss of life has been greater, but in those cases the disaster 
was as sudden as overwhelming; but here the hapless victims lingered 
many weary hours perishing by inches within speaking distance of 
hundreds on shore eager, but powerless, to render them assistance. 
The vessel was pounded to pieces by the surf, her hull being sold at 
auction for $55, and such effects as were saved bringing in the aggre- 
gate $225. 

July 1st, schooner yacht "Dauntless, " from Boston to New York, 
stranded on Great Point Rip at 1 o'clock in the morning. She was 
sailing on a wager and making 13 knots an hour when she struck. 
She was kedged off with the assistance of a wrecking crew from town. 

August 25th, schooner "Julia E. Pratt," Britt, of Boston, bound 
from Calais, Me., to Bridgeport, Conn., with a cargo of lumber, struck 
on Great Point Rip about 2 o'clock in the morning and bilged. The 
crew took to their boat and were picked up off Tuckernuck shoal by 
steamer Marthas Vineyard on her way hence. The vessel went to pieces. 

1887. 

March 13th, schooner "James Watson," Holder, of and from St. 
John, N. B., to New York with a cargo of 1,000 barrels of lime and 
129,000 laths, having encountered heavy weather in the sound and 
pounded over some of the shoals and sprung a leak, was run ashore on 
Great Point near the Glades, to prevent her sinking. The sea made a 
clean breach over her when she struck. The captain and two men 
made their way out to the end of the bowsprit, which overhung the 
beach, and dropped. The mate had previously perished from exhaustion 
and his body was swept overboard. He was subsequently picked up 



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109 

at Quidnet. The lime took fire and vessel and cargo were partially 
consumed. 

April 2d, three-masted schooner "Mattie W. Atwood, " New- 
combe, 620 tons, in ballast, from Boston for Norfolk, Va., parted 
from her moorings in the sound and drove ashore in the night on the 
north side of the island, west cf Capaum pond, during a violent storm. 
She was gotten off on the 5th by the assistance of a wrecking crew, 
the salvors being awarded $900. 

April 5th, the masts of a three-masted sunken schooner were 
sighted from Siasconset just east of Bass Rip. A boat's crew from 
Quidnet went to the vessel, but were unable to ascertain her name. 
She was subsequently identified as the "Cora Etta," Fales, of and 
from Rockland, Me.; for New York with a cargo of lime. The crew 
had evidently abandoned her when she sunk and perished. 

April 26th, schooner "Lawrence Hines," with a cargo of ice, 
which had been lying outside the Bar awaiting a favorable tide to 
come into the harbor, went ashore near the jetty during a violent gale. 
A portion of her cargo was taken off by schooner W. O. Nettleton and 
the vessel was floated on the 29th. 

April 26th, schooner "Active," Frisbee, from Rockport, Me., to 
New York with a cargo of paving stones, was sighted off Quidnet 
with sails blown away and a signal of distress flying. She was 
boarded by a boat's crew, who worked her into Vineyard Haven. 

November 30th, schooner "Abbie Wasson," Lord, with lumber, 
from Bangor, for New London, struck on Pollock Rip during the night 
and filled, drove across the shoal on the flood tide and drifted westward 
to Cross Rip. She was seen from town next morning and schooner 
W. O. Nettleton started to her assistance but found her deserted, the 
crew having been taken off by the Monomoy life-saving crew when she 
struck. Her sails and rigging were secured by the Nettleton and on 
December 3d she was towed to Woods Hole by revenue cutter Gallatin. 

December 12th, brigantine "Anglo," Love, of Lunenberg, N. S., 
from Demarara to Boston with 3,009 bags of sugar, went ashore on 
the inside of Great Point during the evening. The crew were taken 
off by a boat from Coskata life-saving station. With the assistance 
of a wrecking crew of twenty a portion of her cargo was discharged 
into barges and she was hauled off by a tug on the 15th. 

December 22d, schooner "Lucy Jones," Duncan, from Perth Am- 
boy for this port, deeply laden with coal, was run on to the Bar in the 
early afternoon, as it was feared she would founder in the heavy sea 
caused by a fierce gale which had sprung up after she left Vineyard 
Haven, The sea made a clean breach over her when she struck, com- 
pelling the crew to take to the rigging. The underwriters' boat was 



110 

taken to the Cliff shore and manned by sixteen volunteers, who at the 
risk of their lives pulled out to the vessel and took off her crew of 
four men and the pilot, William J. Burgess, of this town. About two- 
thirds of her cargo was subsequently landed here in boats, the salvors 
receiving 50 per cent., and on the 27th the vessel was kedged off and 
brought into port. 

1888. 

March 28th, English iron steamship "Canonbury," Mitchell, from 
Matanzas for Boston, with a cargo of sugar, struck on the ''Old Man" 
in a dense fog. When the fog lifted a couple of hours later the crew 
started for the land in their boats, as the ship was leaking badly and 
night coming on. Meantime she had been sighted from Surfside sta- 
tion and Capt. Veeder and crew started to her assistance in the small 
surf-boat. About two-thirds of the distance had been covered when 
two of the steamer's boats laden with the entire crew were met pull- 
ing shoreward. Directing them to follow, Capt. Veeder started back 
toward the station, and when a short distance from shore instructed 
the steamer's boats to anchor, as it would be suicidal for them to at- 
tempt to land through the high surf then raging. Taking a few of 
the sailors into their boat, the Surfside crew effected a landing in 
safety. Meantime the large life-boat had been brought down and 
made two trips through the raging surf, bringing ashore the remainder 
of the crew. One of the rescued mariners was sick in his berth when 
the ship struck and died shortly after landing, from effects of the ex- 
posure in his enfeebled condition. Shortly after leaving her the ves- 
sel worked off the shoal and drifted on to Pochick Rip, a short distance 
off Siasconset, where, despite various attempts to get her off, she re- 
mained many months, an object of curiosity to sight-seers, until com- 
pletely engulfed by the waves and shifting sands. 

September 25th, fishing schooner "Enola C," Rust, of Glouces- 
ter, with a full catch of mackerel on board, anchored under Great 
Point, parted and drove ashore at the "Galls." She was floated on 
the 29th. 

November 15th, schooner "Grampus," of the U. S. Fish Com- 
mission service at Woods Hole, stranded on Bass Rip, four miles off 
Sankaty. The mate with a boat's crew came ashore for assistance 
and shortly after the remainder of the crew were taken off by a fishing 
smack. Subsequently the vessel drifted off and was picked up by a 
tug and towed to Woods Hole. When found she was in charge of one 
man who had been put aboard by a passing vessel. 

November 28th, schooner "David Faust," for Boston, with a 
cargo of cement, struck on Great Point Rip during the night. The 
following day she was boarded by a crew in the underwriters' boat, 
who contracted to float her for $300 and she was gotten off after 
throwing overboard 150 barrels of her cargo. 



Ill 

1889. 

January 27th, ship "Antoinette," 1,118 tons burthen, Capt. Fer- 
gusen, of Yarmouth, N. S., from Montevideo to Boston, in ballast, 
went ashore on the southwest side of Tuckernuck at 9 o'clock in the 
evening. Her masts were cut away when she struck, to prevent her 
rolling over. The Muskeget life-saving crew pulled three miles to 
their assistance in two dories, but found the sea running so high as to 
render it impossible to board the vessel or attempt to disembark her 
crew with the dories. They accordingly landed at Tuckernuck and pro- 
cured the Humane Society's boat, which was hauled overland a mile 
and a half by oxen and launched. Finding it was still impossible to 
board the vessel, they pulled back to the station on Muskeget, loaded 
the gun and beach apparatus in the boat and returned to the scene, ar- 
riving just at sunrise. A shot was fired across the vessel and a haw- 
ser run off, by means of which all on board were safely landed in the 
breeches buoy. There were on board, besides the crew of 17, three 
passengers — another captain, his wife and daughter. The vessel was 
floated April 23d. 

October 15th, a dismasted schooner anchored off Sankaty Head 
with a signal of distress flying. She dragged during the day and in 
the evening was off Surfside sending up rockets, which were answered 
from the station until she disappeared. Off Noman's Land the follow- 
ing day her crew were taken off by a passing steamer and carried to 
Boston. Later a schooner fell in with the dismantled and abandoned 
craft and towed her into Vineyard Haven. She proved to be schooner 
"Kate Foster," of Machias, Me., Capt. Tate, bound to New York 
with a cargo of piling. She was hove down off Nantucket and the cap- 
tain ordered her masts cut away. A few minutes later he was swept 
overboard by a heavy sea. At daybreak they anchored off Sankaty. 

December 4th, Italian bark "Nostri Genitore," from Trapani for 
Gloucester, with a cargo of salt and wine, anchored off the head of 
the harbor, leaking, and her crew came ashore for assistance. None 
of them could talk English and her captain and mate came to town for 
an interpreter. Meantime several wreckers from town joined forces 
with a crew from Quidnet and boarded the vessel during the 
night, finding her abandoned with four feet of water in the hold. 
They reduced this to eighteen inches and got under way. In attempt- 
ing to come through the "slue," she struck heavily and all hands left 
her, landed at Great Point and came to town in the Underwriters' 
boat. Shortly after the wreckers left her two tugs came down, hauled 
her off and towed her to Boston. 

November 16th, the Muskeget life-saving crew put out to a 
schooner on Shovelful Shoal in the teeth of a furious gale. She proved 



112 

to be the "Forest City," of Ellsworth, Me., lumber laden, and floated 
toward night, her crew having already made their escape, landing at 
Vineyard Haven. 

1890. 
February 13th, four-masted schooner "Eva B. Douglass," Letts, 
from Philadelphia for Portsmouth, with a cargo of coal, stranded on 
Great Point Rip during the night. The following day steamer Island 
Home and two tugs made unavailing attempts to haul her off, but 
during the night the vessel jettisoned a portion of her cargo and got 
off without assistance. 

1891. 
October 23d, during a storm and gale schooner "Vulcan," Gil- 
bert, of Rockland, Me., bound to New York, with a cargo of lime, 
became unmanageable in the sound and stranded on the Bar late in the 
afternoon. The underwriters' boat was hauled to the Cliff and manned 
by volunteers who rescued the crew after a severe struggle against 
wind and sea. When they left her the cargo was on fire and burned 
until the vessel was consumed. Her masts burnt off below deck and 
went by the board. She was stripped of sails, rigging, etc., by 
wreckers who received 60 per cent, salvage. 

1892. 
January 20th, three-masted schooner "H. P. Kirkham," Me- 
Cloud, of Liverpool, N. S., bound from Halifax to New York with a 
cargo of dry and pickled fish, struck on Rose and Crown Shoal in the 
evening and sank. The seas broke over her immediately, compelling 
the crew to take to the rigging. At daybreak the next morning she 
was sighted from Sankaty lighthouse by Keeper Remsen, who tele- 
phoned Coskata life-saving station. The crew started immediately 
with their small life-boat on wheels, hauling her across the beach and 
launching her on the outside of Great Point. They reached the vessel 
about 11 o'clock and with great difficulty took off her crew of seven 
men from the rigging, where they had been exposed for fifteen hours, 
suffering intensely from cold and frequently drenched by the breaking 
waves. Then commenced a long, hard struggle for life. The little boat, 
overloaded with the double crew, took in water frequently, necessita- 
ting constant bailing to keep her afloat. Siasconset, the nearest land, 
was ten miles to windward. The wind and sea increased and the dash- 
ing spray froze on the men as they struggled at the oars. Hour after 
hour they rowed, without perceptibly nearing the shore. In less than 
an hour after leaving the vessel she had gone to pieces. Three hours 
later and again during the night they were obliged to anchor to pre- 
vent being carried to sea. Darkness settled upon them and all through 
the night they toiled on, guided by the flashes from Sankaty's beacon. 



113 

Meantime they had been given up for lost by anxious friends on shore, 
but when day dawned the little boat was descried in the offing, still 
gallantly buffeting the fierce wind and sea, and at 10 o'clock in the 
forenoon they landed on 'Sconset beach. For twenty-six hours since 
leaving their station they had battled with wind and sea without nour- 
ishment and under circumstances of extreme peril. In recognition of 
their effoits the United States government awarded to Keeper Chase 
a gold medal and to each of the crew a silver medal, the presentation, 
with appropriate public exercises, taking place in the Unitarian church 
in January, 1893. Ere the arrival of the medals, however, one of 
the number, Surfman Perkins, had succumbed to a fatal attack of ill- 
ness, brought on by the severe exposure. 

March 20th, bark "Western Belle," Sweeney, of New Bedford, 
from Singapore for Boston with a valuable general cargo, struck on 
the South Shoals, pounded over and anchored off Sankaty Head, leak- 
ing badly. Her main and mizzen masts were cut away to check her 
from dragging on to Rose and Crown Shoal. Early next morning she 
was boarded by the Coskata life-saving crew, by whose assistance at 
the pumps the vessel was kept afloat until the arrival of tug Mercury, 
which towed her to Vineyard Haven and thence to Boston after putting 
a steam pump aboard. 

October 22d, three-masted schooner "Joel F. Shepard," coal- 
laden, was discovered ashore on Swile Island Shoal, near Tuckernuck. 
She was boarded by boats from Tuckernuck and by the Great Neck 
life-saving crew, but declined assistance and later in the day the ves- 
sel floated. 

1893. 

April 23d, Norwegian bark "Mentor," 500 tons burthen, bound 
from Cienfuegos to Boston with a cargo of sugar, struck on Old South 
Shoal and was abandoned with all sails set. Her crew succeeded in 
reaching Great Round Shoals lightship, from which they were taken 
off next day by a fishing vessel and landed at Vineyard Haven. Mean- 
time the bark floated off the shoal, was discovered drifting about some 
ten miles south of the island and boarded by two boats' crews from 
Nantucket. They pumped her out and started to work her in to New 
London, but were spoken off Block Island on the afternoon of the 25th 
by one of the Boston Tow Boat Company's tugs, which had been sent out 
in search of the vessel, and towed her to Vineyard Haven and subse- 
quently to Boston. The vessel and cargo were valued at $73,000. The 
salvors received $14,500, which netted about $750 to each man. 

April 29th, barkentine "Albertina," Dill, of Windsor, N. S., 
655 tons burthen, bound from Buenos Ay res to Boston, with a val- 
uable cargo of 40,000 hides, was discovered ashore on the southwest 
side of Muskeget and boarded by the life-saving crew. Wreckers from 



114 

town and Tuckernuek made several unsuccessful attempts to kedge her 
off. Meantime, two steam tugs had been sent to her assistance and 
by their combined efforts succeeded in hauling her off the following 
night and towed her to Vineyard Haven. 

April 26th, four-masted schooner "J. R. Teal," Johnson, from 
Norfolk, Va., for Portland, with a cargo of coal, stranded on Norton's 
Shoal. She was boarded by the life-saving crew from Tuckernuek and 
subsequently two steam tugs went to her assistance and floated her 
the night of the 27th. 

July 27th, steamship "Santuit, " Sturgis, bound to Boston from 
Jamaica with a cargo of bananas and cocoanuts, struck on Fishing Rip 
in a dense fog, but was able to back off after throwing overboard some 
2,000 bunches of bananas, a large quantity of which floated ashore on 
the south side of the island and were secured. 

December 13th, schooner "Fleetwing, " Faulkingham, of Rock- 
land, Me., for New York with a cargo of 1,533 barrels of lime, parted 
from her anchors in the sound during a heavy northwest blow and drove 
ashore in the Chord of the Bay just east of Coskata life-saving sta- 
tion. The crew effected a landing in their boats, but the cargo took 
fire and the vessel burned, but little of value being saved. 

1894. 

January 13th, three-masted schooner "Minnie C. Taylor," Quin- 
lan, of Portland, Me., from New York to Boston with a cargo of 1,500 
barrels of lubricating oil, drove ashore in the Chord of the Bay. The 
Coskata life-saving crew shot a line over the vessel by means of which 
a hawser was hauled off and secured to the mizzen-mast and her crew 
of four men were landed in the breeches buoy. The vessel, while at 
anchor off Cross Rip in a heavy gale, became badly iced up and during 
the previous night was struck by a heavy sea and hove down, parting 
her best bower. The shock threw the forecastle lamp out of its sock- 
et and it exploded, setting the forecastle on fire. The crew, realizing 
that they were doomed if the flames got into the hold, fought for their 
lives and succeeded in extinguishing the fire. Soon after striking, the 
vessel began to break up. She was stripped of sails, spars and effects, 
the wreckers receiving 50 per cent, salvage. About 1,000 barrels of 
oil were saved and brought to town by boats and teams at $1.25 a 
barrel. 

February 5th, four-masted schooner "M. D. Borda," Endicott, 
of Philadelphia, from Rockland, Me., to Baltimore, with 1,200 tons of 
ice, grounded on Great Point Rip. She was boarded by Coskata life- 
saving crew and by a crew from town in the Underwriters' boat. The 
following morning a steam tug came down and hauled her off. 

October 9th, three-masted schooner "Laura V. Rose," Leeds, 



115 

from Kennebeck, Me., to Philadelphia, with a cargo of ice, anchored 
near Great Point, parted her chain in a gale and running before the 
wind, struck on Tuckernuck Shoal, drove over, and anchored about 
eight miles west of Cross Rip lightship, leaking badly. Her fore and 
mizzenmasts were cut away to ease her. The steward was washed 
overboard by the seas which swept over her and lost, and the captain 
was dashed against the vessel's side and injured so badly that he died 
shortly afterward. Signals of distress were set and the remainder of 
the crew taken off by a passing vessel with great difficulty, after hav- 
ing been lashed to the bits on the quarter deck for fifteen hours. The 
dismantled craft was sighted off Sankaty the following day and a crew 
from town drove across the island and boarded her in the Humane 
Society's boat from Siasconset. She was likewise boarded by the 
Coskata life-saving crew, but finding her water logged and abandoned 
and fast breaking up, both crews returned to land. 

1895. 

October 4th, three-masted schooner "Nellie F.Pickering," Kim- 
bal, from Belfast, Me., to Newark, N. J., with a cargo of paving 
stones, drove ashore on Long Shoal off Tuckernuck, during the night. 
The crew were taken off by the life-saving crew from Muskeget next 
morning, after a hard pull of three hours, and landed on Tuckernuck. 
Meantime the vessel continued to drag and eventually drifted into 
Muskeget channel and sank. 

October 20th, schooner "Sallie B.," Spalding, of Boston, from 
Rockport, Me., to New York, with a cargo of paving stones, anchored 
six miles from Great Point, with signals of distress flying, was board- 
ed by Coskata and Monomoy station crews. Her sails were torn, spars 
damaged and she was leaking badly. She was assisted to repair dam- 
ages, got underway and stood in by Great Point, dropping the Coskata 
crew, then put into Hyannis, dropping the Monomoy crew en route. 

November 12th, the stem of a vesselapparently of English build, 
with mast and cross-trees and a quantity of wire rigging attached, 
was discovered aground about four miles northeast of Great Point. 
It was surmised that the vessel had broken in two. Her identity 
could not be ascertained. 

December 6th, barkentine "Elmiranda," of Boston, Capt. Dun- 
can, from Baltimore for Bath, Me., with a cargo of coal, stranded on 
Great Point Rip during a heavy northwest gale. She was boarded by 
the crew of Coskata life-saving station, who found her leaking badly. 
Meantime steam tug Underwriter came to her assistance, hauled her 
off at high water and towed her to Vineyard Haven, the station crew 
remaining aboard to work the pumps. They returned to their station 
next day. 



116 

December 7th, schooner yacht "Luella," bound from Boston to 
Florida, drifted into Nantucket harbor with mainsail and jib gone, 
main boom broken and wheel carried away. They were overtaken by 
a storm in the sound and rode out the gale under lee of Cross Rip 
lightship. 

December 30th, during the night schooner "Carlotta," Gale, of 
and from St. John, N. B., for New York, with a cargo of lumber, 
parted from her anchor near the Horseshoe and drove on to Tucker- 
nuck Shoal. Next day the Tuckernuck life-saving crew attempted to 
reach her, but were unable on account of the severity of the gale, and 
came to Madaket and sent word to town to have a tug notified. Rev- 
enue cutter Dexter came from Edgartown the following morning (Jan- 
uary 1), but owing to her greater draught of water was unable to get 
within half a mile of the stranded vessel. She sent her surf -boat, 
however, and took off the crew, who were transferred to steamer 
Marthas Vineyard on her trip to Woods Hole. Owing to the shallow 
water none of the wrecking tugs could reach the vessel, but the Mar- 
thas Vineyard put a wrecking crew aboard with instructions to jetti- 
son her cargo, and after several attempts succeeded in hauling her off 
shortly after midnight, January 3d, and towed her to Vineyard Haven. 

1896. 

May 6th, schooner "Enterprise," loaded with iron pipe, went 
ashore on Long shoal off Tuckernuck. She had been abandoned earli- 
er in the day, her crew being taken off by a passing steamer and land- 
ed at Vineyard Haven. 

June 14th, schocnar "Ellen E. Perkins," Smith, of Deer Isle, 
Me., from Bangor to New York, with 175,000 feet of spruce lumber, 
went ashore on the outside of Great Point at 1 o'clock in the morning. 
The crew landed in their boats. Most of her cargo was saved and an 
ineffectual attempt was made by the Boston Tow Boat Co. to haul her 
off on the 20th. She was an old vessel and eventually went to pieces. 

July 5th, Norwegian steamer "Condor," from Banes, Cuba, for 
Boston, ran ashore near Sankaty Head at 1 o'clock in the morning. 
She got off without assistance some hours later and proceeded on her 
way. 

December 9th, schooner "Argo," Lacy, of Stonington, Conn., 
from Portland, Me., to this port, with lumber for the new Catholic 
church, drove ashore in the Chord of the Bay. She came down to the 
Bar the night before too late to enter the harbor and anchored about 
two miles west of Coskata life-saving station. The wind breezed up 
during the night and by morning was blowing a screamer from the 
northwest, causing her to drag, and she struck about 4 o'clock in the 
afternoon. After several unsuccessful attempts to shoot a line aboard. 



117 

the station crew boarded her in their boat and took off the crew. Sev- 
eral ineffectual attempts were made to haul her off next day. She 
was then lightered of her deck load and floated at high water on the 
12th and was towed in to the harbor next morning. As she had bilged 
badly and was only kept afloat by the buoyancy of her cargo, it was 
not deemed expedient to bring her up to the wharf, so she was anchored 
well over towards the South Beach, and her lumber landed by boats. 
During a violent storm on the 16th she rolled over and went to pieces. 
She was an old craft — ^49 years old — and valued at about $700. 

1897. 

April 20th, schooner "Two Brothers," Blake, of Boston, from 
Sullivan, Me., to Taunton, with a cargo of granite curbing, while en- 
deavoring to enter the harbor stranded on the Bar at 9 o'clock in the 
morning. The Underwriters' boat went to their assistance and took 
off the crew, wet and exhausted from exposure. The vessel was float- 
ed during the night, but soon grounded again. The following after- 
noon she was again floated and brought in to the harbor. 

May 8th, schooner "Abel W. Parker," Snow, in beating out over 
the Bar early in the morning misstayed and sagged on to the outer 
end of the eastern jetty, where she stuck fast. The steamer on her 
outward trip made an ineffectual attempt to haul her off. She floated 
at high water in the afternoon and came back to the wharf, leaking 
badly. A sail was drawn under her forequarter, over the leak, and 
she left for Vineyard Haven next day with an extra crew aboard to 
assist in pumping. Temporary repairs were made by a diver, to enable 
her to proceed to New Bedford. 

July 23d, brigantir - "H. S. Sibley," Doane, of and for Boston, 
from Philadelphia with 870 tons of soft coal, struck on Great Rip 
shortly after midnight. The crew abandoned her at daylight, as she 
was half full of water and beginning to break up, and pulled in for 
Sankaty, but finding it too rough to land, skirted the shore to Wau- 
winet, where they were fallen in with by Capt. Patrick Robinson, 
cruising off the east end of the island in catboat Priscilla, and towed 
to town, via the "opening." The following day not a vestige of the 
vessel remained. 

July 30th, fishing schooner "William C. McDonald," of Glouces- 
ter, Capt. Keith, from Block Island, bound to the Grand Banks with 
supplies, ran ashore on the inner side of Great Point just north of the 
lighthouse at 10 o'clock in the evening. The crew took to their boats, 
as she was filling rapidly, and laid by her until daylight, then rowed 
ashore. Her supplies and effects were brought to town and shipped 
to Gloucester. A survey was held on the vessel and she was con- 
demned, but she held together until the following November, when a 



118 

heavy sea pounded her to pieces. [The bell from the McDonald is 
mounted on Steamboat wharf, and is sounded in foggy weather to 
assist steamers in making the dock.] 

1898. 

February 20th, ship "Asia," Dakin, from Manilla for Boston, 
with a cargo of hemp, struck on Round Shoal during a furious north- 
east gale and snowstorm, but did not begin to break up until the fol- 
lowing day. The first knowledge of the disaster was gained on the 
22d when a tug put into Woods Hole with two bodies, a man with a 
little girl clasped in his arms, taken from floating wreckage near 
Handkerchief shoals. These proved to be the mate of the Asia and 
the captain's daughter who, with his wife, had accompanied him on 
the voyage. Later it was learned that three seamen, suffering and 
exhausted, had been rescued by the crew of Handkerchief lightship 
from a piece of the vessel on which they had drifted from the scene of 
the disaster, having been afloat on the wintry sea without food or wa- 
ter for twenty-four hours. For a number of days the sound was 
strewn with wreckage, bales of hemp and debris, a considerable quan- 
tity of which was picked up by boats and drifted ashore on Nantucket 
and the Cape. In all, about a thousand bales were secured, 300 of 
which were landed here. The Asia was a 1,500 ton ship, valued at 
$25,000 and her cargo at $100,000. Her crew numbered twenty- 
three. 

March 23d, barkentine "Culdoon," Richter, of St. John, N. B., 
bound from Cape Town to Boston with a cargo of 1,142 bales of wool, 
ran ashore high and dry at Nobadeer about 4 o'clock in the morning 
in a dense fog. The crew landed in their boat, which capsized in the 
surf, but all got ashore safely. When the vessel struck, the shock 
snapped off her fore-topmast, which hung with rigging and sails in a 
tangled mass from the cross-trees. She was stripped of sails and her 
cargo discharged on the beach with all possible expedition, the wreck- 
ers working day and night, as it was not thought possible that she 
could be gotten off. The attempt was made, however, by tug Right 
Arm, which succeeded in hauling her off at high tide about 10 o'clock 
on the night of the 26th, and towed her to Boston. The bales of wool 
were carted to town and shipped to Boston. 

March 31st, schooner "St. Elmo," Hall, of and from Rockland, 
Me., to New York, with a cargo of lime, foundered on the shoals to 
the eastward of Nantucket and sank about 12 miles off shore, where 
she was descried two days later by Keeper Remsen of Sankaty light. 
The Humane Society's boat at Siasconset was manned by a volunteer 
crew and started for the wreck. As they neared the sunken vessel 
they were signalled by a fishing smack, which had just taken from the 
rigging the sole survivor. As the man was in urgent need of medical 




BARKENTINE CULDOON ASHORE AT NOBADEER, 
She was hauled oflf after beine stripped of sails and her cargo discharged on the beach. 



f 




The bales of wool were carted to town and shipped to Boston. 
Photos by W. F. Codd. 



119 

aid he was transferred to the boat, which in turn was taken in tow by 
steamer Petrel, which had been dispatched to the scene, and landed 
at Siasconset, hence he was hurried across the island to town. He 
proved to be the mate of the vessel and when sufficiently recovered to 
converse he told a harrowing tale of how one by one the captain, his 
wife who accompanied him, and three seamen, were washed overboard 
and drowned, or killed by the shifting deckload when the vessel was 
hove down; when the vessel rolled over the compressed air within 
burst out her stern and she righted and sank till her decks were 
awash, yet possessed sufficient buoyancy to float thus and was carried 
to and fro among the shoals, sometimes grounding one tide and float- 
ing the next. For two days and nights the man clung to the shrouds in 
sight of land and passing vessels, but unable to attract attention, until 
she brought up finally on the Rose and Crown. As soon as rescued he 
collapsed entirely and it was many days before he recovered the use 
of his limbs sufficiently to be forwarded to his home. 

May 15th, schooner "Angela," Murphy, of Franklin, Me., from 
New York to South Gardner with a cargo of brimstone, was sunk by 
collision with schooner S. J. Lindsey near Cross Rip lightship just 
before midnight. Her crew barely escaped aboard the Lindsey and 
were carried to Vineyard Haven. 

May 20th, schooner "W. 0. Nettleton," of and for this port, 
from Boston, with an assorted cargo, including lime and cement, 
dragged from her anchorage near the Bar, went ashore in the Chord 
of the Bay and sprang a leak. The water coming in contact with the 
lime set fire to it. She was lightered of her deck load, kedged off 
and towed in to the harbor on the 22d, when the fire was extinguished 
by forcing steam into her hold. 

Sloop "Jennie," of this port, with seven dories in tow, which 
had been lightering the Nettleton, in attempting to enter the harbor 
in the dark, ran on to Brant Point on the night of the 21st, but was 
hauled off next day by steamer Petrel. 

June 4, three-masted schooner "William E. Young," Tanner, 
from Lunenburg, N. S., to New York, with a cargo of laths, was 
sighted four miles east of Great Point with distress signals flying. 
Steamer Petrel went to her assistance and towed her to Vineyard Ha- 
ven. The vessel was waterlogged and her crew on the point of aban- 
doning her. 

June 10th, three-masted schooner "Stephen Morris," from a port 
in Maine, bound to New York with a cargo of lumber, water logged 
and abandoned, was picked up off the south side of the island by 
steamer Petrel and towed to Vineyard Haven. The vessel was first 
sighted near Bass Rip, off 'Sconset, on the morning of the 5th instant 



120 

and a tug from Vineyard Haven went out, but failed to find her. The 
next day steamer Petrel spoke a vessel off Great Neck station, which 
reported having sighted and run down to the schooner off 'Sconset the 
previous day and found her abandoned. On the 7th the Petrel cruised 
all day in an unsuccessful search, and it was concluded she had gone 
to pieces on the rips. When she again appeared off Surf side on the 
10th, the Petrel, which was fishing off 'Sconset, was notified and 
started in pursuit. Meantime a crew was mustered in town and tak- 
ing the Underwriters' boat on wheels started across the island and 
put off from Surfside. Then ensued a spirited race, but the Petrel 
had the lead, gained the vessel and started westward with her. Being 
waterlogged she towed slowly and the boat's crew overhauled and 
boarded her despite the protests of the Petrel's crew. The latter re- 
ceived $500 salvage, which the boat's crew promptly attached, claim- 
ing to have rendered material assistance, but their claim was not al- 
lowed. 

July 25th, fishing schooner "Lizzie M. Center, " 70 tons burthen, 
Capt. James Smith, of and from Gloucester, ran ashore at midnight in 
a dense fog on the southwest side of the island opposite the head of 
Hummock pond. She was hauled off the following night by steamer 
Petrel, after throwing overboard her ballast and 75 barrels of salt, and 
brought into this port, the Petrel receiving $500 for her services. 

November 26th, schooner "Luther Eldredge," of this port, a lit- 
tle vessel belonging to Capt. Arthur Lewis, at anchor in the harbor, 
loaded with junk iron and general merchandise, broke adrift during a 
severe storm, drove on to a submerged wharf, rolled over and sank. 
She was subsequently raised and repaired. [This was one of the worst 
storms ever known on the New England coast and made ever memora- 
ble by the loss of steamer Portland from Boston with all on board. 
An immense amount of damage was done to the fleet of boats in the 
docks, but no shipwrecks or loss of life occurred on our shores.] 

November — , schooner "David Faust," with a cargo of cement, 
stranded on Great Point rip. She was floated next day by Warren F. 
Ramsdell and a boat's crew who went to her assistance in the Under- 
writers' boat. 

1899. 

February 12th, 13th and 14th, during a protracted storm of wind 
and snow and ice blockade the following disasters occurred : 

Three-masted schooner "E. L. Dow," Capt. V. R. Pinkham, 
went ashore on the back side of Coskata, Sunday, the 12th. Her crew 
were taken off by the life-saving crew and the vessel went to pieces 
during the gale Monday night. 

Three-masted schooner "William Marshall," Capt. Albert Sharp, 



121 

parted from her anchors in the sound Monday night and drove into the 
ice in the Chord of the Bay. She was boarded Tuesday morning by 
the station crew who dragged a dory over the ice, took off the crew 
and brought them to town, arriving after several hours toilsome march 
over the ice. The rescued party included the captain's wife. At 
Brant Point they were met by a large number of citizens, who had a 
sleigh in readiness in which the captain and his wife were placed and, 
as it was impossible to get a horse down to the point, willing hands 
seized the shafts and dragged it across the harbor. 

The two vessels left Boothbay in company, each carrying a cargo 
of ice, the Marshall bound to Washington, D. C, and the Dow to 
Suffolk, Va. The captain of the Dow accompanied the station crew 
when they boarded the Marshall and the surprise of the two captains 
on meeting under such circumstances may be imagined. A tug towed 
the Marshall to Vineyard Haven on the 15th. 

Three-masted schooner "Winnigance, " Parris, with 3,300 bar- 
rels of lime, ashore on Swile Island shoal off Tuckernuck, was boarded 
by Muskeget station crew, and schooner "Demozelle," Maxwell, from 
St. John, N. B., with a cargo of laths, stranded on Dry shoal off Eel 
Point, was boarded by Marcus Dunham and Edward C. Barrett, who 
found the vessel was leaking, the supply of fuel exhausted and the 
crew short of provisions. The captain of the former contracted with 
the Boston Tow Boat Co. and she was hauled off early in March. 
The "Demozelle" was floated by steamer Petrel on the night of Feb- 
ruary 28th after discharging her cargo into lighters, brought to 
this port and re-loaded, the salvors having contracted to float her and 
deliver her loaded at the back of the bar for $1,250. 

Schooner "Emma" was run into by schooner "Erie," near Mus- 
keget and dismasted. Her crew succeeded in reaching schooner "Annie 
M. Kimball," which was subsequently towed to Vineyard Haven by a 
tug. The Erie was for some time thought to have foundered in Mus- 
keget channel with all on board, but eventually arrived in Fall River. 
Schooners Emma, Erie and Demozelle left St. John in company, all 
loaded with lumber from the same yard. 

March 6th, schooner "Luther Eldredge, " Lewis, of this port, 
anchored in the harbor, drove ashore high and dry on the South beach 
during a heavy gale. She was to have left for New Bedford the fol- 
lowing morning on her first trip since her mishap the previous Novem- 
ber. She was hauled off some weeks later. [See Nov. 26, 1898.] 

April 18th, fishing schooner "Eliza," of Beverly, Capt. Hopkins, 
struck on Rose and Crown shoal shortly after midnight. There was a 
heavy swell on and the vessel soon began to break up. Three of the 
crew got into the only boat, when a huge sea boarded the vessel and 



122 

they cut the falls to prevent being swamped. The boat was swept 
away in the darkness on the crest of a wave and 'ere they could re- 
gain the vessel she disappeared. They had but one pair of oars and 
the boat was badly stoven. When day broke they started to pull for 
the land and on the way rowed through a quantity of wreckage which 
they recognized as portions of the vessel. As they neared the shore 
they were sighted by fishermen off 'Sconset, who went to their assist- 
ance and towed them to land. The vessel was 44 tons burthen and 
her crew numbered 14, all of whom belonged in Nova Scotia. 

October 14th, steamer "Marthas Vineyard," in rounding Brant 
Point on her outward trip in a dense fog, ran aground hard and fast 
on Coatue flat at 7 o'clock in the morning. Her passengers were 
brought ashore and the following morning steamer Monohansett was 
sent from Edgartown and made ineffectual attempts to haul her off. 
In the afternoon steamer Gay Head arrived from New York and after 
working on her several hours succeeded in hauling her afloat at 8 p.m. 

November 16th, British schooner "Canary," bound from St. 
John, N. B., for New York, collided in the night with schooner 
"David S. Siner, " near Cross Rip lightship. Steamer Marthas Vine- 
yard answered the call for assistance and took the crew of the Canary 
to Vineyard Haven. The Canary proved to be a total wreck, drifting 
ashore near Muskeget. 

1900. 

April 18th, three-masted schooner "Emma C. Middleton," 501 
tons burthen, Capt. Higbee, with 718 tons of soft coal, went ashore 
just after midnight on the west side of Great Point. She was hauled 
off by steamer Petrel the following day, apparently uninjured. 

September 18th, the Coskata crew went to the assistance of 
three-masted schooner "N, H. Skinner," bound from Bath to Phil- 
adelphia with ice, which was in distress in the sound. The life- 
savers had a six-hours' pull through heavy seas and as the vessel had 
lost her sails and was unseaworthy the station crew remained aboard 
all night. The next morning the schooner was taken in tow by tug 
"Storm King." 

October 17th, during a sudden and severe storm which came up 
the previous night, the following disasters occurred in this vicinity: 

Schooner "Alaska," McLeod, from River Herbert, N. S., with 
a cargo of lumber, attempted to make this harbor and was driven on 
to the Bar. The crew were taken off by a volunteer crew in the 
Underwriters' boat. Later the schooner was lightered of a portion of 
her cargo, floated and brought in to the harbor and subsequently taken 
to Edgartown and re-loaded. 

Schooner "J. W. Cooper," from Machias, Me., with a cargo of 



123 

lumber, and schooner "J. Arthur Lord," loaded with granite, drove 
ashore in the Chord of the Bay. The crews were landed and cared for 
at Coskata station and both vessels were gotten off, the "J, Arthur 
Lord" being hauled off by a tug on the 19th. 

Schooner "David S. Siner" struck on Pollock Rip and foundered. 
The crew barely escaped from the vessel with their lives, one man be- 
ing obliged to jump overboard and was taken into the boat. They 
reached Great Point with difficulty, narrowly escaping being swamped 
in the rip, and were cared for at the life-saving station. Just eleven 
months previous the "David S. Siner" collided with the British 
schooner "Canary" near Cross Rip, completely wrecking the latter 
vessel, whose hulk drifted ashore on Muskeget, [See November 16, 
1899.] 

Schooner "F. R. Baird," Greenlaw, from Portland to New York 
with a cargo of lumber, stranded on Tuckernuck shoal. The captain, 
mate and their wives came to town in the vessel's boat to telegraph 
for a tug, the two former returning next day on steamer Waquoit, 
which took a wrecking crew from here to lighter the vessel, and she 
was later hauled off by steam tug Seminole. 

November 26th, schooner "Montauk, " of Falmouth, which had 
discharged a cargo of cord wood at Nantucket, broke from her an- 
chorage in the harbor during a heavy gale and was cast ashore on 
Brant point between the lighthouse and the Nantucket Hotel, where 
she remained about ten feet above high water mark on an even keel. 
Steamer "Petrel" made several unsuccessful attempts to float her 
and the scheme was under way to build a cradle about the vessel and 
launch her from an improvised railway, when another heavy storm 
came on the night of December 4th, with an extreme high tide, 
which lifted the vessel from the beach and carried her off near the 
channel, where the crew succeeded in anchoring her just before day- 
light. The "Montauk" was uninjured. 

1901. 

June 28th, fishing schooner "Lizzie M. Center," of Gloucester, 
Capt. Joseph Smith, homeward bound with a full cargo, struck on 
Mutton shoal, Muskeget channel, about 1 o'clock in the morning, 
swung off into deep water and sank. Her crew of eighteen escaped 
in their boats and landed at Cape Pogue, 

August 18th, schooner "Kate B. Ogden" stranded on the north 
end of Tuckernuck shoal. The Muskeget station crew went to her 
assistance, ran out an anchor and at high water she was hauled off. 

September 12th, three-masted schooner "St. Thomas," from Bal- 
timore for Boston with 353 tons of coal, grounded in Muskeget chan- 
nel and sank at 10 o'clock in the evening. Her crew were taken off 
by Muskeget station crew. The vessel and cargo were a total loss. 



124 

October 16th, schooner "Frances R. Baird," with a cargo of 
301,000 feet of lumber, stranded on the east end of Tuckernuck shoal. 
Her crew were saved and the vessel lightered and towed into port. 

1902. 

March 18th, schooner "Fly Away," of Boston, Capt. Brooks, 
from Calais, Me., for New York, with a load of pine lumber, was 
hove down and dismasted off Cape Cod, at which time the steward 
was washed overboard and lost. When her deck load and spars went 
overboard the vessel righted and for some thirty-six hours the dis- 
masted hulk drifted to and fro by the east end of the island. She 
was sighted by Keeper Remsen of Sankaty lighthouse, who re- 
ported her to the Surfside station and the crew pulled out to her, 
finding her near the "Old Man" shoal, and took off the survivors, five 
in number. Later steamer Petrel made an ineffectual attempt to tow 
her to port, but the following day a more powerful tug was sent for 
and towed her to Vineyard Haven. 

Wreckage from schooner "Orozimbo," which left Calais the same 
time as the "Fly Away, " was picked up on the beach, and it was sup- 
posed she went to pieces on the shoals. 

May 22d, schooner "Jonathan Sawyer," from Stonington, Me., 
to New York with granite, stranded on the north end of Tuckernuck 
shoal. Muskeget station crew went to her, assisted in floating her, 
piloted her into deep water, remained on board all night and the fol- 
lowing day sailed her across the sound and anchored her off Falmouth. 

May 25th, during thick weather in the early morning, five-masted 
schooner "Arthur Seitz," Nickerson, and four-masted schooner "Frank 
A. Palmer," Rawding, both of Portland, Me., and loaded with coal, 
stranded on Skiff Island reef, about five miles southwest of Muskeget. 
They were sighted by Muskeget station crew and steamer Petrel, 
both of which went to their assistance. The *Palmer was floated, 
but the Seitz became a total wreck and large portions of her hull sub- 
sequently washed ashore on Tuckernuck and the north side of the isl- 
and. The following October steamer Petrel towed a large piece of 
her hull to the Bar, from which 12 tons of coal and considerable 
wreckage were taken. Both vessels were bound from Baltimore to 
Portsmouth. 

*Sunk by collision off Cape Cod the following December. 

July 17th, schooner "M. J. Soley," Wasson, from Nova Scotia for 
Providence with 137,000 feet of lumber, stranded on Great Point rip 
during a heavy blow. She was hauled off the following day by steam- 
er Petrel and proceeded, leaking slightly. 

1903. 

January 29th, fishing schooner "Hattie & Maggie," Nickerson, 



125 

of Boston, struck on Rose and Crown shoal in a dense fog at 8 o'clock 
in the morning. At 10 o'clock her crew of 18 men abandoned her in 
six dories, as she was leaking badly, landing on Great Point late in 
the afterenoon. The vessel went to pieces. 

February 20th, what proved to be part of a vessel with three 
masts standing, near Round Shoal, was visited by a crew from town in 
the Humane Society's boat from Quidnet. The identity of the wreck 
could not be learned. 

March 16th, British steamship "Parkgate," from Cienfuegos to 
Boston with a cargo of sugar, stranded on Whaleman's shoal, about 
15 miles E. S. E. from Sankaty. The mate and four sailors came 
ashore for assistance, landing near Sankaty. Tugs were telegraphed 
for and the Storm King and Underwriter despatched from Vineyard 
Haven. The Underwriters' boat and crew and Orison Hull's boat 
started, the Underwriters' boat in tow of steamer Waquoit. On reach- 
ing the vessel she was found afloat. Meantime many tugs offered 
to tow but the captain of the steamer declined. The Parkgate fol- 
lowed the tug Storm King, ran down to the bar and left the Nantucket 
men, then proceeded to Boston. Tug Underwriter received $15,000 
and tendered the men here $400, which they refused. 

May 6th, three-masted schooner "Agnes E. Manson," Babbitt, 
852 tons burthen, (largest three-master afloat) struck on Rose and 
Crown shoal about 2 o'clock in the morning, but later came off and 
anchored. After four hours' pumping, the water gaining continually, 
the captain, his wife and crew of 8 men, took to the yawl boat and 
stowed their provisions and dunnage in the other. They stood by the 
vessel until she sank about 10 o'clock, then started for shore, landing 
at Siasconset about 1 o'clock in the afternoon. In passing through 
Bass rip it was necessary to cut adrift the boat in tow, as it endan- 
gered the other boat. Steamer Petrel subsequently took out the Un- 
derwriters' crew and stripped the vessel of sails and rigging. The hull 
was blown up by government the following July. 

June 17th, a dismasted and abandoned vessel was discovered off 
the north side of the island near the jetty. It proved to be schooner 
"Progress," of St. John, N. B., which had been in collision in the 
sound the previous week and been purchased by Chatham parties, 
which had broken adrift during a heavy gale the day before and drove 
across the sound. She was boarded by Alexander C. Swain and John 
S. Watkins and later towed into the harbor by steamer Petrel. The 
vessel leaked so badly, however, it was decided to abandon her and 
she was towed inshore until she grounded near the South Beach, where 
she remained some years. During a heavy gale and extreme high 
tide, January 25, 1908, which wrought great havoc along the water 



126 

front, her hull broke in two, was washed ashore and landed directly 
across the railroad track on the South Beach, and 'ere long found its 
way as fuel into many homes. 

1904. 

February 20th, British schooner "Scotia Queen," which had 
been imprisoned in the ice north of island for some days, with signals 
of distress flying, and carried to and fro by ice floes, grounded near Eel 
point. Various unsuccessful attempts had been previously made to reach 
her, but next day Asa F. Meiggs and James M. Ramsdell succeeded in 
boarding her in a dory. She was loaded with lumber and bound from 
a Maine port to New York, was short of water and wanted a tug. 
Early next day a supply of water was carried to them by the Mad- 
aket life-savers and later steamer Petrel started to her assistance, 
but ere she reached her the vessel floated and sailed away. She soon 
stranded on Tuckernuck shoal, but got off during the night and an- 
chored under the Cape. 

April 5th, fishing schooner "Braganza, " Moseley, of and from 
Gloucester, stranded on the north end of Bass rip. She came off 
shortly afterward, leaking badly, and anchored near Round shoal. Leav- 
ing twelve men on board to work the pumps, the captain and five men 
landed at Quidnet and sent to town for assistance. Steamer Petrel, 
taking on board a wrecking crew, went out to her, picking up the 
boat's crew on the way and took the vessel in tow for New Bedford, 
which was reached the following morning. It required the combined 
efforts of all hands, including the Petrel's crew, working continuously 
at the pumps all night, to keep the vessel afloat until they reached 
New Bedford. The "Braganza" was one of the finest fishing smacks 
on the coast and was valued at $6,000. 

November 14th, catboat , owned in Hyannis, broke from her 

moorings at the Cape, drifted across the sound, by Great Point to 
Quidnet, where she drove ashore opposite Sesachacha pond in a severe 
snowstorm, landing high up on the beach uninjuried. 

November 18th, three-masted schooner "Charles Luling," with 
coal for Cash Coal Co. of this town, went ashore near the western 
jetty about 9.30 p. m., in attempting to enter the harbor without a 
pilot. She was boarded by the Humane Society's boat and the crew 
taken off. She was purchased as she lay from the Insurance Company 
by Nantucket parties and the greater portion of her cargo saved. The 
vessel hailed from Grand Haven, Mich., and was built for service on 
the Great lakes, in which she was engaged till a year before. She 
was floated on the 29th and towed into the harbor by steamer Petrel. 
She was subsequenty taken to New Bedford, repaired and sold. 

December 16th, schooner "George B. Ferguson," Maddox, with 



127 

a cargo of coal for the Cash Coal Co., grounded on the east side of 
the channel in attempting to enter the harbor. During a severe storm 
on the night of the 18th she came off, swept across the channel and 
finally stranded within a stone's throw from shore, leaking badly from 
the pounding she received. Her cargo was discharged into lighters, 
and the hull remained there some years, but finally broke up. 

December 18th, three-masted schooner "Richard S. Learning," 
ashore on Long shoal, was boarded by the crew of Muskeget life-sav- 
ing station and found to be abandoned. She was loaded with rock 
plaster and bound from Windsor, N. S., to Philadelphia, and eventu- 
ally went to pieces. Her crew doubtless took to their boat when she 
struck and perished. Four years later, January, 1909, the headless 
body of a man was found embedded in the sand at Cliff Beach near the 
jetty, which, from papers found in his pockets, was identified as Nel- 
son Mills, the captain of the ill-fated vessel. 

1905. 

January 25th, iron steamship "Georgetown," of Buffalo, a 
freighter, 1358 tons burthen, from Portland, Me., drove ashore almost 
high and dry on the outside of Great Point during a severe storm. As 
she remained tight her crew stayed by the ship and next morning were 
able to drop on the beach dry shod. She was hauled off on the Slst by 
the Merritt Wrecking Co.'s tug. 

May 20th, five-masted schooner "Jane Palmer," Willey, from 
Newport News, for Portland, with 5,000 tons of coal, stranded on 
Great Rip, eight or nine miles east of Sankaty. The mate and three 
men landed at Sankaty after a perilous trip through the rips. Steam- 
ers Petrel and Waquoit went to her assistance, with two crews of 
wreckers and wrecking gear. About 60 tons of coal were thrown over- 
board and by means of kedges the vessel was moved some thirty feet, 
when tugs Underwriter and Mercury, which had been telegraphed for, 
arrived on the scene with a steam lighter and by their combined efforts 
after she had been further lightened the vessel was hauled into deep 
water and towed to Boston apparently uninjured. The Palmer regis- 
tered 2,823 tons and was valued at $175,000. 

June 17th, schooner "Nellie G. Adams," of Provincetown, while 
fishing near Great Rip, was run into and sunk by south bound schoon- 
er J. H. Birdsall of Philadelphia. At the time there were but two 
men on board the Adams, which had ten dories out. The former were 
taken off the sinking vessel by the Birdsall, which then picked up the 
remainder of the crew and turned back to Boston. 

1906. 

February 6th, a large piece of British bark "Altona," with one 
mast attached, recently wrecked near Cross Rip, was encountered in 
the sound by revenue cutter Gresham, towed to the Chord of the Bay, 



128 

and delivered to Coskata life-saving crew as a derelict dangerous to 
navigation. 

September 3d, schooner "Nellie Waters," of St. John, N. B., to 
Stonington, Ct., with lumber, which had anchored in the Chord of the 
Bay during a gale, grounded on the Bar in getting underway. Steam- 
ers Petrel and Waquoit hauled her off and towed her into the harbor 
next day. She had her sails torn and lost an anchor on the shoals. 

November 3d, schooner "Mansfield," with lumber for this port, 
in attempting to enter the harbor without a pilot, ran aground hard 
and fast on Coatue flats. She was floated a week later, after being 
lightered of most of her cargo and towed in and docked by steamer 
Petrel. 

1907. 

January 5th, a five-masted schooner whose identity was not 
learned, stranded about 3 miles east of Great Point. Coskata station 
crew and a volunteer crew from town in the Underwriters' boat start- 
ed to her assistance, but just before reaching her the vessel came off 
and sailed away. 

May 20th, fishing schooner "Dorothy," Kimball, of Gloucester, 
stranded on Bass Rip and sprang a leak. The captain and two of the 
crew pulled ashore for assistance in the night and landed at Siascon- 
set. Information was telephoned to town and a wrecking crew gath- 
ered, and the men returned to their vessel, but when daylight broke 
the vessel had vanished. She came off soon after the men got back 
and they pumped her out and returned to Gloucester, from where first 
news came from them. 

July 6th, schooner "S. Sawyer," in leaving this port, stranded 
on Coatue flats. She was floated on the 21st and returned to the 
harbor. 

1908. 
January 29th, brigantine "Fredericka Schepp, " Oversen, of Mys- 
tic, Conn., which had dragged from her anchorage near Handkerchief 
shoal in a heavy northwest gale, went ashore on the north side of Coa- 
tue about daylight. Repeated attempts were made by Coskata life- 
saving crew to launch their boat, which was each time dashed ashore 
again. About 10 o'clock steamer Petrel went up harbor and landed 
a crew of wreckers on the inside of Coatue, who walked across and 
lent assistance to the life-savers. By the combined efforts of the two 
crews the boat was finally launched, and at 11.15 o'clock the strand- 
ed vessel was reached and the nine persons on board, including the 
captain's wife and year-old son, were landed, taken across to the har- 
bor side and brought to town by steamer Petrel. The vessel wsa 
bound from South Amboy, N. J., for Vinal Haven, with a cargo of 



129 

coal. She was floated April 17, after being lightered of her cargo, 
brought into the harbor and subsequently towed to Mystic, Conn. 

June 29th, fishing schooner "Shenandoah," struck on Rose and 
Crown shoal and four of the crew, thinking the vessel doomed, left 
her in a dory. She came off soon after, uninjured, but the boat had 
disappeared. After cruising in search of them the following day the 
captain ran in under Sankaty and reported the missing men, who 
were supposed to have been lost. Several days later word was re- 
ceived that the men had been picked up by a passing vessel, after 
drifting about in the fog all night. 

July 2d, fishing schooner "Francis J. O'Hara" stranded on Bass 
Rip during the night. Her crew of ten men landed at Coskata life- 
saving station in their seine boat the following morning, but later 
returned to the vessel, which was floated late in the afternoon by the 
rising tide, and proceeded to Boston, leaking slightly. Steamer Pet- 
rel started to her assistance, but arrived just as the vessel floated. 

August 26th, German steamship "Brewster," from Jamaica for 
Boston with a cargo of fruit, stranded on Bass Rip, but succeeded in 
working off without assistance. 

December 12th, fishing schooner "Latona, " of Noank, ran on 
Great Rip during moderate westerly winds. She came off later after 
pounding heavily for about an hour, leaking so badly that her pumps 
could not keep her free. She was taken to New Bedford and went on 
the ways for repairs. 

1909. 

February Ist, schooner "J. Arthur Lord," anchored under Hand- 
kerchief Shoal with signals of distress flying, was boarded by Coskata 
life saving station crew, who found her dragging and in danger of 
going ashore on Great Point. Meantime word having been telegraphed 
to Woods Hole, revenue cutter Acushnet went to her assistance and 
towed her to Vineyard Haven. 

March 10th, schooner "Horatio Hall," was sunk by collision 
with steamer "H. F. Dimock" in Pollock Rip slue. As she was a 
menace to navigation, she was blown up the following month and a 
quantity of her wreckage drifted ashore on Nantucket. 

September 12th, fishing schooner "Benjamin Smith," Capt. Sol. 
Jacobs, stranded on the bar at midnight. Coskata life-saving crew 
went to her the following day, but were unable to float her. She was 
hauled off late in the evening by revenue cutter Acushnet, which had 
been summoned to her assistance. 

December 19th, six-masted schooner "Mertie B.Crowley," coal- 
laden, stranded on Tuckernuck shoal. Steamer Petrel and a number 
of tugs went to her assistance and after lightering her, she was float- 



130 

ed on the 2l8t. One month later she went ashore near Marthas Vine- 
yard and became a total loss. 

December 25th, three-masted schooner "Belle Halliday" left 
here in the early morning, bound to Philadelphia with a cargo of rail- 
road iron, and grounded on Coatue flats. During a severe storm and 
extreme high tide the following day she floated and drove across the 
channel to Brant Point. She was lightered of part of her cargo and 
after working on her about a month by steamer Petrel and a gang of 
wreckers, she was hauled off uninjured January 16. 

1910. 

January 24th, schooner "S. G. Haskell," lumber-laden, strand- 
ed on Handkerchief shoal. A considerable portion of her cargo was 
saved and brought in to Nantucket and sold at auction. She was 
stripped of rigging and part of her cargo and hauled oflF by a tug Feb- 
ruary 22. She was bound from Brunswick, Ga., to Portland, Maine. 

April 23th, schooner "Nettie B. Dobbins," Small, of and for 
Machias, Me., from New York with a cargo of lime, broke from her 
anchorage outside the bar, drove into shoal water and stranded oppo- 
site the water works, with the sea breaking over her. Her boat was 
torn from the davits and swept away. Two men could be discerned 
on board and steamer Petrel, with a volunteer crew, went to the res- 
cue. Steaming as near as was prudent, she sent a boat manned by 
two of her crew, who took off the men. They proved to be brothers, 
one the captain and owner of the vessel, and comprised her entire 
crew. She was an old vessel and was blown up the following June. 

April 26th, four-masted schooner "Eleanor F. Bartram," from 
Sabine, Texas, for Boston, with yellow pine, stranded on Cross Rip. 
She was hauled off by U. S. cutter Acushnet. 

May 2d, three-masted schooner "Minnie Slauson," lumber-laden, 
stranded on Cross Rip. The crews of Coskata, Muskeget and Mada- 
ket life-saving stations went to her assistance, also revenue cutter 
Acushnet. As she was leaking badly the Madaket crew remained 
aboard while she was towed to Vineyard Haven, to assist at the pumps, 
and returned on the steamer next day. 

May 16th, fishing steamer "Waquoit" of this port, in passing 
through Smith's Point opening, grounded on a shoal, rolled over 
and filled, the water putting out her fires and leaving her at the mercy 
of a high sea that was running. She was observed from the Madaket 
life-saving station, whose crew went to her assistance, aided in pump- 
ing and bailing her out, floated her and got a fire started under her 
boiler. Steam was gotten up and she started for New Bedford, but 
finding she could not be kept afloat to reach that port, she was headed 
for the Vineyard and beached at Vineyard Haven, where temporary 
repairs were made. 



131 

June 4th, a disabled motor-boat, with a young man named Peter 
Larson the sole occupant, was dashed ashore on the north side of Coa- 
tue. He was bound from Amesbury to New York, and shortly after 
rounding Highland light the propeller broke and he was swept along 
at the mercy of wind and waves, which broke into the small craft fre- 
quently, necessitating constant bailing. He was sighted from Coatue 
by Leander and Asa W. Small, who assisted him to land and secure 
the boat from further injury. He was completely exhausted, having 
been buffeted about by the waves without rest or food for forty hours, 

September 29th, four-masted schooner "William B. Palmer," 
Jenssen, from Newport News for Bangor with 2700 tons of coal, 
struck on Davis Bank, east of Rose and Crown Shoal, during a dense 
fog in the afternoon. The crew of eleven men stayed by her five 
hours, then, as she commenced to break up, took to their long boat, 
and after rowing all night, reached the Round Shoal lightship, whence 
they were taken to Hyannis next day in the lightship tender. 

December 16th, three-masted schooner "Thomas B. Garland," 
Capt, E. C. Wallace, of Portsmouth, N. H., bound from South Am- 
boy to Salem with a cargo of coal, broke from her anchorage under 
Handkerchief shoal and drove ashore on Great Point, midway between 
the lighthouse and Coskata life-saving station, about 2.30 o'clock in 
the morning. Her crew were taken off by the station crew, who went 
to their rescue in their life-boat in the teeth of a howling gale and 
intense cold. After several ineffectual attempts by tugs to haul her 
off, steamer Petrel contracted to lighter and float the vessel, which 
was accomplished on the 29th, when revenue cutter Acushnet towed 
her to the Bar and she was brought in and docked by the Petrel. She 
was subsequently taken to New Bedford for repairs and sold to Vine- 
yard Haven parties. 

December 16th, three-masted schooner "Mollie Rhodes," Dob- 
bin, of and for Vinal Haven, Me., with a cargo of coal from New 
York, struck on Round Shoal and sank. Her crew of six were prob- 
ably lost. 

December 30th, schooner "Julia A. Berkele, " light, at anchor 
in the harbor, dragged ashore at the mouth of the Creeks. She was 
floated the following day, but immediately went ashore south of Com- 
mercial wharf. She was gotten off January 5, uninjured. 

1911. 

March 23d, coal barge "Stonington, " Dawes, the stern barge of 
three in tow of a tug, sprang a leak in the sound. After vain at- 
tempts to signal the tug, as their vessel was sinking rapidly, the crew 
of four men took to the life-boat near Handkerchief lightship. The 
captain perished soon after leaving, and a little later one of the crew 



132 

died. The boat with the two dead bodies and the two survivors, one 
of them (the captain's son) delirious, was washed ashore on Great 
Point in the afternoon, where the survivors were cared for at the light- 
house and Coskata station notified. The life-savers took charge and 
brought all to town next day. The captain of the tug discovered the 
plight of the barge soon after her ciew left, and anchoring the rest 
of the tow, started with her for port, but she soon sank in twelve 
fathoms of water. Had the crew remained on board, all would have 
been saved. 

July 28th, schooner "Nokomis," Pettipard, sword-fishing on the 
shoals south of Nantucket, foundered during a severe storm and gale. 
One man was swept overboard and lost. The remaining eight escaped 
from the vessel in two dories. One containing the captain and three 
men capsized and all were drowned. Those in the other boat were 
rescued by a fishing smack. The dory from v/hich the four men were 
drowned was picked up later and found to have been rammed by a 
swordfish, the broken sword remaining imbedded in the boat. The 
manner in which it was broken off led to the belief that the occupants 
had fought with the great fish for their lives and hacked the long bony 
weapon in two. 

August 19th, two-masted schooner "Minnie, "of Halifax, N. S., 
coal-laden and abandoned, was boarded several miles off Great Point 
by Coskata life-saving crew, who found her leaking slightly with 
three feet of water in the hold, sails adrift and anchors gone. Reve- 
nue cutter Acushnet was signalled and towed the vessel in around Great 
Point, when it was deemed advisable to beach her to prevent her 
sinking. The next morning steamer Petrel with a wrecking crew and a 
powerful steam pump aboard, took possession of the vessel, pumped her 
out, and the following day towed her into the harbor with her cargo 
intact. Nothing was heard regarding the missing crew of the Minnie 
for several days, and hope of their safety was about abandoned, when 
word came from Portsmouth, N. H., that the five-master Dorothy 
Palmer had reached there with the crew of the Minnie on board, they 
having gone aboard the Palmer when their own little schooner was 
abandoned. The Minnie was bound from Elizabethport for Canso, N. 
S., had anchored in the sound during a blow, parted both chains and 
was drifting toward Great Round shoal when they left her. 

November 17th, three-masted schooner "Charles H. Wolston," 
Macauley, of Bath, Me., from Port Johnson for Boothbay, with 743 
tons of coal, broke from her anchorage under Handkerchief Shoal and 
drove on to Great Point Rip early in the morning. Her crew of six 
men were rescued by the crew of Coskata life-saving station, after a 
four hours' battle in a raging sea, the shipwrecked men being taken 
from the rigging in an exhausted condition, having been lashed there 



133 

six hours. The vessel went to pieces. The previous afternoon the 
Coskata crew hauled their surf -boat out to the end of Great Point, 
having sighted a vessel about four miles north-northwest from the 
lighthouse, which was flying signals of distress. The conditions were 
so bad, however, that they could not make a launching. The crew 
from the Monomoy station succeeded in reaching the vessel, which was 
later taken in tow by revenue cutter Acuahnet, with anchors gone and 
sails torn, and taken into Vineyard Haven. She was found to be the 
schooner "Ella Clifton," which had anchored near the "Wolston" 
and broke adrift some hours earlier. 

1912. 

January 14th, three-masted British schooner "Beaver," from 
Bridgewater, N. S., to New York, lumber laden, struck on Bass Rip 
in the morning. She was boarded by a volunteer crew from Siascon- 
set in the Humane Society's boat, who took off the crew and had 
started for shore when steamer Petrel hove in sight and they put 
back. When the Petrel arrived she succeeded in hauling the vessel 
off and towed her to Vineyard Haven, the volunteer crew remaining 
aboard, as she was full of water and only buoyed up by the lumber. 

February 12th, coal barges "No. 7" and "No. 16," of the 
Consolidated Coal Co., in tow of steamer Charles Myer, were broken 
adrift by the ice and forced ashore on Great Point. Both crews were 
taken off by tug Anderson. "No. 7" was floated by tugs on the 15th, 
after jettisoning part of her cargo, and towed to Vineyard Haven and 
No. 16 was hauled off the following day. 

February 12th, three-masted schooner "Ralph M. Haywood," in 
the ice very near Great Point, and gradually being forced ashore, was 
extricated from her perilous situation by revenue cutter Acushnet. 

August 27th, fishing schooner "Shenandoah, " of Boston, collided 
with the six-masted schooner "Addie M. Lawrence" of Portland, near 
Great Round Shoal, during a dense fog in the early morning and sank 
shortly after. The crew were saved and landed at Vineyard Haven. 
As the sunken craft was a menace to navigation, she was blown up 
September 7th. [See June 29, 1908.] 

August 28th, two-masted schooner "Julia A. Berkele, lumber- 
laden and water logged, with foresail gone, was boarded off Siasconset 
by the Surfside life-saving crew about 8 o'clock in the morning. 
Shortly after steamer Petrel arrived and took her in tow, the station 
crew leaving her off Sankaty. She towed heavily and the Petrel was 
unable to make the harbor that night, so beached her in the chord of 
the bay. Several days later she was brought into the harbor and her 
cargo discharged into schooner E. C. Gates for shipment to Pawtucket, 
R. I., whence the Berkele was bound, though for several years she 



134 

had been making frequent trips to Nantucket. [See December 30, 
1910.] 

September 7th, schooner "E. C. Gates," with the cargo of lum- 
ber taken from schooner Berkele, in attempting to sail out of the har- 
bor en route for Pawtucket, was swept out of the channel and went 
ashore at full high water. She was floated a couple of days later and 
proceeded. 

November 6th, 38-foot motor-boat "Florence IV," from Boston 
bound to New York, brought up high and dry on the beach at Great 
Point at 7.30 o'clock in the evening. There were three men aboard 
who thought they were heading into Vineyard Haven harbor, having 
mistaken Great Point and Sankaty lights for the lights on East Chop 
and West Chop, Marthas Vineyard. Their compass was 8 points out 
and they had been swept off their course by the strong tide. The men 
were sheltered for the night at Coskata life-saving station and early 
Thursday morning steamer Petrel pulled the boat off the beach and 
towed her in to the harbor. She was hauled on the ways, when it was 
found her rudder post was broken and she had sustained some minor 
injuries. 

1913. 

June 8th, four-masted schooner "Frances M.," from Jackson- 
ville, Fla., for Bath, Me., with a cargo of lumber, grounded on Cross 
Rip during a heavy fog. She was hauled off the following day by U. 
S. revenue cutter Acushnet. 

June 17th, two-masted schooner "Regina," of and from Machias, 
Me., bound to Wareham with a load of lumber, struck on Great Point 
rip at 3.30 o'clock in the morning. A wireless message was sent to 
revenue cutter Acushnet at Woods Hole and at 10 a. m., aided by the 
Coskata station crew, she hauled the vessel off apparently uninjured. 

August 2d, dredger "Tiger, " with a string of mud scows, in 
tow of tugs "Gaspee" and "William H. Gallison," left Nantucket in 
the early evening, bound for Mystic. In an attempt to cross Tucker- 
nuck shoals instead of following the regular channel, the whole outfit 
grounded during the night. They were hauled off two days later by 
revenue cutter Acushnet, assisted by the crew of Muskeget life-saving 
station. 

Sepember 20th, five-masted schooner "Helen W. Martin," from 
Boothbay, Me., bound for a coal port, light, went ashore on Hawes 
Shoal in a heavy northeast wind and thick weather. She was boarded 
by Muskeget life-saving crew the following day, but in the meantime 
revenue cutter Acushnet had arrived and late in the afternoon suc- 
ceeded in hauling her off. 

October 14th, two-masted British schooner "Georgie Pearl," 



135 

Naufstaf, from Elizabethport for Liverpool, Nova Scotia, with 230 
tons of coal, anchored off Low Beach and hoisted signals of distress. 
She was boarded in the afternoon by Surfside life-saving crew. She 
had been buffeted about among the shoals for hours by the gale, had 
lost her sails and was leaking. Night coming on and the storm increas- 
ing, her captain feared the vessel would founder before morning, so 
he decided to abandon her. The crew of five men were taken aboard 
the life-boat and sheltered at the station, intending to board their 
vessel again when the weather moderated, if she remained afloat. The 
gale continued through the following day, however, but subsided to- 
wards evening, when Levi Jackson, of Edgartown, who was in port 
with his auxiliary sloop Priscilla II, started for the vessel and took 
her in tow for the Vineyard. When he went by Surfside with the 
prize, the schooner's crew were taken off by the life-savers, but Jack- 
son had possession and would not let the captain and his men aboard, 
continuing the trip westward and reaching the Vineyard the following 
morning. He was subsequently awarded $1,400 salvage. 

November 1st, schooner "Annie M. Parker," Capt. Vincent Nel- 
son, of the Gloucester codfishing fleet, struck on Rose and Crown Shoal 
in the early morning. Fearing she would go to pieces her crew of 
fifteen men abandoned her late in the afternoon in four boats, four 
others being smashed or swamped in the endeavor to launch them. 
Three of the boats, containing eleven men, after drifting helplessly 
about through the night and being carried by the tide within five miles 
of Sankaty, were picked up 30 miles off shore the next forenoon by 
schooner Tilton, bound from Jacksonville, Fla., to Portland, with a 
load of lumber. One man, the cook, meantime had been washed out 
of one the boats and drowned. The fourth boat, containing the cap- 
tain and three men, disappeared in the darkness and was never heard 
from. Had the crew remained on board all would have been saved, 
for the vessel subsequently worked off the shoal and was sighted two 
days later sailing wildly about by steamer Astrakhan of Liverpool, 
bound to Dunkirk, which put two men aboard, anchored her about a 
mile from Nantucket lightship and proceeded on her voyage. Later 
revenue cutter Gresham, which had been notified, arrived on the scene 
and towed the vessel to New Bedford. 

November 28th, four-masted coal-laden schooner "Maud Palmer" 
was crippled while at anchor near Great Point, by being struck by 
two schooners. She was towed to Portland next day by the revenue 
cutter Androscroggin. The Palmer lost her jib-boom and head gear, 
the yawl and davits were carried away and her stern ■ffas damaged. 

1914. 

January 12th, coal barge No. 788, belonging to the Lehigh Val- 
ley Co., with a crew of three men, which, with two other barges, was 



136 

being towed up sound by one of the company's tugs, parted her haw- 
ser near Cross Rip at night. Her anchor was dropped, but failed to 
hold and she drove before a fierce northwest gale across the sound and 
down to the Chord of the Bay, where she was discovered at daybreak 
by the crew of Coskata station drifting helplessly toward the shore. 
Ice was making rapidly and a fierce sea was running, rendering futile 
their attempts to launch the surf-boat until late in the afternoon. 
Then the boat was taken to Coatue, where conditions were more fa- 
vorable and they succeeded in breaking through the ice and reached 
the vessel, taking off the men and landing them on Coatue. Meantime 
a party of fishermen went up on the inside of Coatue, took the ship- 
wrecked men, who were frost-bitten and in need of clothing, from 
their rescuers and brought them to town, while the life-savers re- 
turned to their station. The following evening (January 14th) a par- 
ty of boatmen went out in Stanley Morin's power-boat, boarded the 
barge after a difficult trip and were kedging her off next morning 
when tug Irvington, from which she broke adrift, came after her. A 
deal was made with the agent on board and the barge was given up 
to the tug, which steamed westward with her to rejoin the rest of the 
tow, 

February 2d, five-masted schooner "Jane Palmer," at anchor 
near the Handkerchief shoal, and about six miles from Coskata life- 
saving station, was run into by schooner Frontenac and stripped of 
bowsprit and headgear. The station crew went aboard and rendered 
assistance until the arrival of revenue cutter Acushnet, when the 
captain telegraphed for a tug to take the vessel in tow. 

February 2d, two-masted schooner "Ida," bound to this port 
with a cargo of coal, attempted to make the harbor after sundown, 
but mistook Sankaty light for that on Brant Point and narrowly es- 
caped running ashore in the Chord of the Bay. She was sighted a 
short way off heading for the beach by the patrol, who flashed his sig- 
nal light, then telephoned the station and the crew came to her assis- 
tance in their power boat. The wind died out, and lacking sufficient 
power to tow the heavily loaded vessel, the station boat ran in to the 
harbor, aroused the crew of a fishing sloop in the middle of the night, 
and with her added power succeeded in towing the vessel in. 

July 11th, five-masted schooner "George P. Hudson," Capt. 
John Thomas, of and for Boston from Philadelphia, with a cargo of 
coal, was run into and sunk off Great Round Shoal, about 10 o'clock 
at night during a dense fog, by steam collier "Middlesex," of and 
from Boston, bound to Norfolk, Va., light. The Middllesex was an 
iron steamer and her prow cut deep into the wooden vessel just abaft 
her forecastle, the impact causing her gasoline tank to explode, rip- 
ping her wide open. The blow and explosion sent two of her masts, 




"SO STATELY HER BEARING, SO PROUD HER ARRAY!" 

Schooner Georg-e P. Hudson, "snapped" by H. B. Turner from steamer Sankaty as she passed 

in the sound, July 11, 1914, at 4 p, m. Six hours later, the Hudson lay a shattered 

wreck at the bottom of the ocean off Round Shoal. 




Section of the Georg-e P. Hudson that washed ashore at Quidnet. 



137 

with sails and rigging, tumbling to the deck in a litter and she sank 
in two minutes. Owing to the thick weather most of the crew were 
on deck. Of four men below, one was killed in his berth by the col- 
lision and his body hurled aloft by the explosion and into the sea. A 
second gained the deck and was crushed by a falling mast. The other 
two rushed on deck and leaped overboard. At the moment of the col- 
lision a boat was cut from the davits and two or three got into her. 
The rest of the crew jumped into the sea and clung to pieces of wreck- 
age until picked up by boats from the Middlesex. Capt. Thomas re- 
fused to leave the vessel and went down with her. About a week lat- 
er his body washed ashore on Cape Cod. The Middlesex, with nine 
survivors aboard, returned to Boston, slightly damaged. During a 
severe northeaster in the early fall the sunken vessel broke up and a 
large section drove ashore high and dry at Quidnet. Later, during a 
heavy storm it was swept along to the northward and deposited on the 
beach near Squam pond, where it now lies (April, 1915.) 

Jnly 26th, fishing schooner "Evelyn Thompson" went aground 
in the shoal water off Tuckernuck in the night during a dense fog. 
She was hauled off the following day by revenue cutter Acushnet, ap- 
parently uninjured, and towed up sound. 

August 23d, Italian barkentine "Beatrice," from Genoa for 
Gloucester, with a cargo of salt, ran on to Bass Rip in the morning. 
She was boarded in the afternoon by a volunteer crew from Siasconset 
in the Humane Society's boat. The ship had been 65 days on the 
passage and had not discovered any signs of land in approaching this 
coast nor seen the South Shoal lightship, owing to thick weather, and 
the captain did not know he was in a dangerous locality until he 
brought up on the rip. The ship floated from the shoal just as the 
'Sconseters arrived and dropped anchor in deep water between the two 
rips, where she remained until a tug came down from Boston and took 
her in tow next day. 

October 24th, fishing schooner "Anna" anchored under Sankaty 
Head for the night, parted her moorings unknown to her crew and was 
cast ashore high and dry on 'Sconset beach at daylight next morn- 
ing, directly in front of the Beach House. Members of her crew 
jumped ashore and sent a message to the cutter Acushnet, asking for 
assistance. The cutter came down in the afternoon, and, favored by 
an offshore wind and smooth sea, succeeded in pulling the smack off 
the beach, uninjured. The fare of fish which the Anna had on board 
was thrown on to the beach and brought to town by team. 

December 5th, six-masted schooner "Alice M. Lawrence," 
Wormell, from Portland, Me., to Norfolk, Va., light, stranded on 
Tuckernuck Shoal in the early morning. When her predicament was 
discovered at daybreak the life-savers from Madaket and Muskeget 
stations started to her assistance, but the former were obliged to put 



138 

back, as their motor gave out. Tugs and barges were sent to her as- 
sistance and for some days her owners were sanguine of getting her 
off. Investigations, however, revealed the fact that she had run on to 
a sunken vessel loaded with paving stones and "broken her back." 
All hope of saving her was therefore abandoned and efforts were con- 
fined to stripping her thoroughly. These operations lasted several 
weeks, a tug, two lighters and a gang of thirty-eight men being 
employed. Everything of value has been removed, leaving only the 
dismantled hulk which now looms up on the shoal, (April 1915) a con- 
spicuous object for many miles. The Alice M. Lawrence is the larg- 
est vessel ever wrecked in this vicinity. She was 305 feet long and 48 
feet beam, 3,132 gross tons and was one of the few six-masters afloat. 
She was built at Bath, Me., in 1906, and was valued at about $200,- 
000. The sunken vessel on which her hull rests is the French Van 
Gilder, wrecked March 29th, 1885. 

1915. 

February 12th, five-masted schooner "Mary F.Barrett" of Bath, 
Me., bound to Norfolk, Va., in ballast, mistook lights passing through 
the sound in the night and stranded on Norton's shoal. She was board- 
ed by the Muskeget life-saving crew next day, who notified revenue 
cutter Acushnet, which later succeeded in hauling her off the shoal. 

March 29th, gasoline boat "Jessie" of this port, owned by 
George Greenwood and George W. Rogers, while engaged in dredging 
for quahaugs near the Bar, caught fire from escaping gasoline and in a 
moment was a roaring furnace from stem to stern between decks. 
Other boats of the quahaug fleet noticed her predicament and hastened 
to the rescue. The "Tango" and "Gem" took the burning craft in 
tow and succeeded in beaching her on the outside of Coatue, where the 
fire burned itself out, leaving nothing but a charred hull. The three 
men on board were able to save only a few of their belongings, the 
fierce fire preventing them from going below, but everything that 
was moveable in the house and on deck was taken ashore when the 
boat was beached and before the fire had completed its work. 

April 15th, two three-masted vessels, the "George E. Klinck," 
bound from Long Cove, Me., for New York, with a cargo of stone, 
and the "Roger Drury," bound from St. John, N. B., for City Isl- 
and, with a cargo of laths, struck on Hawes shoal, in Nantucket 
sound, during heavy weather in the night, the latter being ashore only 
a short distance outside of Cape Poge. The crew from Muskeget sta- 
tion boarded both vessels early in the morning and later the coast 
guard cutter Acushnet came down and succeeded in floating the 
"Klinck." The "Drury" remained fast until the 17th, when a 
wrecking outfit from New London succeeded in floating her, after 
lightering several hundred bundles of laths. 



.A.I=>X'E3iTIDIX:. 



140 



Awards to Nantucket Men by the Massachusetts 
Humane Society. 

The following list of awards by the Massachusetts Humane So- 
ciety to citizens of Nantucket are, with a single exception, for rescues 
from perils of the sea, and in all but four instances for efforts in be- 
half of ship-wrecked mariners whose rescue has often been effected 
through extraordinary hardship and risk of life : 

For rescuing crew of Brig "Mariner," wrecked on Nantucket Bar, 
October 15, 1845 : 
Capt. Heman Eldredge — Gold Medal. 
George Fisher, Joseph Perry, Hiram Fisher, Jesse Eldredge, William 

Patterson — Silver Medal each. 
Capt. Eben Gould— Gold Medal. 

Moses Hamilton, Theophilus Key, John Hall, Henry Young, Meltiah 
Fisher — Silver Medal each. 

For rescuing crew of Bark "Forest Prince," wrecked near Long Pond, 
December 24, 1852: 

David G. Patterson, Joseph S. Patterson — $10.00 each. 

Davis Hall, Alexander B. Dunham, Daniel T. Dunham, James C. 
Dunham, William R. Forbes, William Swan, Frederick A. Dun- 
ham, Joseph Fisher — $5.00 each. 

For rescuing crew of Brig "Brazillian, " wrecked near Muskeget, 

December 15, 1856: 
Alexander B. Dunham, George W. Dunham, Frederick A. Dunham, 

John F. Ramsdell, Edwin R. Smith, Gustavus Smith — $15.00 

each. 
David G. Patterson, William Patterson, Joseph S. Patterson, Watson 

Burgess, Davis Hall, Moses Hamilton — $10.00 each. 
Daniel T. Dunham, James C. Dunham, Isaac P. Dunham, John B. 

Brooks, George B. Coffin— $7.00 each. 

For rescuing crews of Schooner "Susan & Mary" and Schooner 
"Sarah," wrecked on Bar, March 30, 1859: 

David G. Patterson, Joseph Perry — $8.00 each. 

Joseph S. Patterson, Davis Hall, Benjamin Long, William R. James, 
Jesse Eldredge, Alexander B. Dunham, Watson Burgess, Loring 
A. Dunham, Daniel Russell, George W. Holmes, William J. Bur- 
gess, George Marvin — $5.00 each. 



141 

For rescuing crew of Schooner "Nevis," wrecked on Great Point, 
October 11, 1860: 

Alexander B. Dunham — $10.00. 

Joseph S. Patterson, George W. Dunham, Davis Hall, Frederick A. 

Dunham — $8.00 each. 
W Burgess, Calvert Handy, Elijah Luce — $4.00 each. 

For rescuing crew of Brig "May Queen," wrecked at Low Beach, 
December 2, 1861 : 

David G. Patterson— $10.00. 

Alexander B. Dunham, David Bowen, George H. Dunham, Edward 

Austin, Loring A. Dunham, David B. Andrews — $7.00 each. 
Watson Burgess, Joseph Hamblin, William D. Ellis — $2.00 each. 

For rescuing crew of Schooner "Volant," stranded on the Bar, 

December 8, 1863 : 
Alexander B. Dunham, Frederick A. Dunham, Loring A. Dunham, 
David B. Andrews, Joseph Perry — $5.00 each. 

For rescuing crew of Schooner "Odessa," waterlogged in Sound, 

December 11, 1863: 
Alexander B. Dunham, George W. Dunham, William J. Burgess, 
Loring A. Dunham, John H. Dunham — $2.50 each. 

For rescuing the captain of Schooner "Eveline Treat," wrecked on 

Miacomet Rip, October 21, 1865: 
Frederick W. Ramsdell — Silver Medal. 

For rescuing crew of Schooner "Mary Anna," wrecked on the Bar, 

February 4, 1871 : 
Alexander Fanning, Joseph P. Gardner, Isaac Hamblin, George A. 

Veeder, Henry C. Coffin, William M. Bates, James A, Holmes, 

Stephen Key — Silver Medal and $10.00 each. 

For rescuing crew of Schooner "Mary H. Banks," wrecked near 
Smith's Point, October 29, 1871: 

Thomas F. Sandsbury, Joseph Fisher — $15.00 each. 

Henry C. Coffin, James G. Smith, Isaac P. Dunham, John S. Apple- 
ton, Jr., John P. Coffin, Valentine Small, Warren F. Ramsdell — 
$10.00 each. 

For descending into a cistern and rescuing George E. Mooers, a 

plumber who had become asphyxiated, September 15, 1874 : 
Horace Cook — Bronze Medal. 



142 

For rescuing William Henry, blown off-shore in a dory from Quidnet, 

May 11, 1874: 

Alexander Bunker, Joseph Fisher, Charles S. Norcross, William H. 
Norcross, John B. Norcross, Oliver C. Chadwick, Frank P.Chad- 
wick, Joseph Francis, Washington I. Chase — $4.00 each. 

For boarding in a dense fog a Man-of-War in Muakeget Channel fir- 
ing guns for assistance, and extricating her from her danger- 
ous position, in the summer of 1876, two boats' crews: 
Thomas F. Sandsbury, Isaac P. Dunham, George Huxford, James G. 
Smith, Theodore Ames, John Smith, Eben G. Sandsbury, Lean- 
der Small, Andrew B. Brooks, Charles B. Brooks, Marcus W. 
Dunham, Zimri Cathcart — $88.00 total. 

For rescuing from drowning Miss Ada B. Robinson and Charles 

Pollard, August, 1876: 
James H. Christian — Bronze Medal. 

For rescuing crew of Schooner "William Capes" sunk on Tuckernuck 
Shoal, October 1, 1876: 

George Huxford, James G. Smith, Isaac P. Dunham, John B. Brooks, 
Charles B. Brooks, Andrew B. Brooks, George B. Coffin, Henry 
C. Coffin, Theodore Ames, Wallace Dunham — $5.00 each. 

For rescuing crew of Schooner "John Farnum," wrecked on Tucker- 
nuck, March 29, 1878: 

Thomas F. Sandsbury, James G. Smith, James C. Sandsbury, George 
B. Coffin, Andrew B. Brooks, John B. Dunham, Marcus W. Dun- 
ham— $20.00 each. 

For rescuing the survivors from Schooners "Emma G. Edwards," 
"J. W. Hall" and others, wrecked in the vicinity of 
Tuckernuck and Muskeget, April 1, 1879: 
Thomas F. Sandsbury — Silver Medal and $25.00. 
James C. Sandsbury, Henry C. Coffin, George E. Coffin, Andrew B. 
Brooks, John B. Dunham, Marcus W. Dunham, Edwin R. Smith 
—$25.00 each. 

For rescuing crews of Schooners "Andrew H. Edwards," "Convoy" 

and other vessels, wrecked in the vicinity of Tuckernuck 

and Muskeget, April 1, 1879: 

Isaac P. Dunham, George B. Coffin, Nathan Fish, Arthur C. Folger, 

Joseph A. Hendricks, — $15.00 each. 



143 

For rescuing crew of Schooner "R. Baker, Jr.," wrecked on the Bar, 

October 5, 1881: 
John B. Norcro39, Joseph M. Folger, Jr., Asa F. Meiggs, Benjamin 
F. Morris, Oliver C. Chadwick, Leander Small— $10.00 each. 

For rescuing crew of Schooner "Alice Oaks," wrecked off Capaum 
Pond, April 30, 1885: 

Alexander C. Swain, Joseph P. Gardner, George H. Hamblin, John 
Hamblin, Henry Fisher, Washington I. Fisher, George E. Orpin, 
Charles Taylor, Everett Swain, William R. Morris, Everett Cof- 
fin, Wallace A. Eldredge, Philip L. Holmes — $5.00 each. 

For rescuing crew of Schooner "Lucy Jones," stranded on the Bar, 
December 22, 1887: 

Warien F. Ramsdell, John G. Orpin, Horace B. Cash, Charles G. 
Coffin, James M. Ramsdell, Joseph P.Gardner, James A. Holmes, 
Arthur C. Manter, William M. Bartlett, James Kiernan, David 
H. Eldredge, Leander Small, George E. Orpin, Samuel P. Wins- 
low, Edward W. Folger, John P. Taber — $3.00 each. 

For assistance rendered U. S. Life-Saving Crew who rescued 21 

persons with the breeches buoy from Ship "Antoinette," 

stranded on Tuckernuck, January 27, 1889: 

Robert K. Dunham, James C. Dunham, Elbert Dunham, Arthur P. 

Dunham — $5.00 each. 

For rescuing crew of Schooner "Vulcan," wrecked on the Bar, 
October 23, 1891 : 

John P. Taber, John Williams, Joseph P. Gardner, Horace C. Orpin, 
B. Chester Pease, William Hendrick, John P. Coffin, Alonzo 
Fisher, Daniel W. Folger, Patrick Robinson, Everett James, 
Charles W. Cash — $3.00 each. 

For rescuing sole survivor of Schooner "St. Elmo," sunk on Rose and 

Crown Shoal, April 2, 1898: 
James A. Holmes, Horace Folger, James P. Coffin, Horace C. Orpin, 

Octavus W. Lewis, Arthur McCleave, Manuel Sylvia, Asa F. 

Meiggs, Charles S. Glidden, Leander Small, Edward H. Rose, 

John P. Taber— $2.50 each. 

For rescuing Marcus E. Howes, a member of Coskata Life-saving 
Station, whose dory was caught in the ice in the harbor, 
and he in danger of perishing, February 6, 1901 : 
William H. Norcross — $10.00. 



144 

Charles G. Coffin, James A. Backus, John P. Taber, Manuel Thomas, 
Robert Mack, Timothy M. Dunham, 2d, William Sylvia, John 
Fish, Charles Williams— $5.00 each. 

For rescuing three men from an overturned sailboat near the Bar, 

August 22, 1903 : 
Arthur I. Weeks, *Henry 0. Underwood, *George L. Huntress, Jr., 
*Orrin G. Wood, *Donald C. Scott — Silver Medal each. 

•Summer residents. 

For rescuing crew of Schooner "Charles Luling, " stranded on the Bar, 

November 18, 1904 : 
James C. Lumbert, George W. Burgess, Horace C. Orpin, James A. 

Fisher, James Locke, Obed Glidden, Charles B. Cathcart— $5.00 

each. 

For boarding a vessel off Siasconset, flying distress signals, and bring- 
ing a man ashore for medical aid, November 20, 1910 : 
Charles C. Morris, James P. Coffin, Roland H. Coffin, Frank O. 

Holdgate, Albert B. Pitman, Edmund Folger, Arthur C. Folger, 

Horace Folger— $2.50 each. 

For boarding the Barkentine "Beatrice," stranded on Bass Rip, 
August 23, 1914: 

Charles C. Morris— $4.00. 

Horace Folger, Roland H. Coffin, James P. Coffin, Edward F. Coffin, 

George S. Davis, William Egan, Stillman C. Cash, Arthur C. 

Folger, Harold Folger— $3.00 each. 



145 

Special Awards. 

In addition to the foregoing, the United States Government, 
through special acts of Congress, awarded: 

For aid to Man-of-War "Alaska," imperiled in Muskeget Channel in 

the summer of 1876 : 
Thomas F. Sandsbury, Isaac P. Dunham, George Huxford, James G. 

Smith, Theodore Ames, John Smith, Eben G. Sandsbury, Andrew 

B. Brooks, Charles B. Brooks, Marcus W. Dunham, Leander 

Small, Zimri Cathcart — $500 total. 
For reBCue of shipwrecked seamen in the vicinity of Tuckernuck and 

Muskeget, March 31, 1879: 
Thomas F. Sandsbury — Gold Medal. 
James C. Sandsbury, Henry C. Coffin, George E. Coffin, Andrew B. 

Brooks, John B. Dunham, Marcus W, Dunham, Edwin R. Smith 

— Silver Medal each. 

For rescue of crew of Schooner "H. P. Kirkham, " on Rose and Crown 
Shoal, by the crew of Coskata Life-saving Station, 
January 20, 1892: 
Keeper Walter N. Chase — Gold Medal, 

Surfmen Jesse H. Eldredge, John Lyman, Charles B. Cathcart, Ro- 
land H, Perkins, Josiah B. Gould, George H. Flood — Silver 
Medal each. 



In 1863, the King of Prussia, through his official representative, 
presented to Captain David G. Patterson a heavy silver chronometer 
watch, suitably inscribed, in recognition of his efficient aid, at the risk 
of hie life, in rescuing the crew of Prussian bark "Elwine Freder- 
icke," wrecked on Great Point Rip, April 21, 1863. 



146 



IlsTIDEX:. 



In addition to the vessels contained in the index, there are one hundred and one men- 
tioned in the list, whose names it has been impossible to obtain. 



A 

Abbie Wasson 109 

Abbott Lawrence 56 

Abbie Pratt 62 

Abel W. Parker 117 

Absalom 39 

Ace of Clubs 93 

Active 109 

Adawanda 97 

Addison 50 

Adel 104 

Adel Truesdell 106 

Adeline 28 

Aguiear . 72 

Agnes E. Manson. . . . 125 

A. H. Waite 98 

Alaska 122 

Alba 105 

Albertina 113 

Albert Steele 93 

Albion 39 

Albion Cooper 57 

Alcanor 59 

Alcora 104 

Alexander 58 

Alice M. Lawrence. . 137 

Alice Oaks 95 106 

Almeda 98 

xVltona 127 

Alumina 101 

Alvarado 94 

Amaranth 35 

Amazon 40 42 48 

Amelia 78 

America 24 72 

American Chief 95 

Andrew H. Edwards. 95 

Angela 119 

Anglo 109 

Ann 33 

Anna 137 

Anna Currier 103 

Ann Amelia 94 

Ann Eliza 33 

Annie Caroline 75 

x\nnie L. Henderson. . 102 

Annie M. Kimball. . . . 119 

Annie M. Parker.... 135 

Anson 45 

Antares 39 

Antoinette Ill 

Antoinette M. Aiken. . 102 

Ariel 41 

Ar^o 116 

Ark 25 

Arthur Seitz 124 



Asia 118 

Atlas 27 55 

Augusta 30 

Aurora 17 

Austen Locke 107 

Azora 46 

B 

Balloon 82 

Banner 52 

B. Colcord 79 

Beatrice 137 

Beaver 40 133 

Belle Halliday 130 

Benjamin Smith 129 

Betsev 25 

Billow 61 

Blanche Home 87 

Bonnie Leslie 101 

Boston 63 

Boston Packet 36 

Bowditch 66 

Braganza 126 

Brazilian 65 

Brewster 129 

British Queen 59 

Brittania 51 

Brookville 37 

Brutus 55 

Byzantium 62 

C 

Cambridge ._:_.. 50 

Canary 45 122 

Canonbury 110 

Carlotta 116 

Caroline 19 50 69 

Caroline C 89 

Carroll 76 

Cashier 28 36 

Castilian 67 

Catharine 27 

Cato 19 

C. C. Shaw 86 

C. C. Van Horn 80 

Celeste Clark 87 

Centurian 51 

Ceylon 39 

Champion 76 76 

Charles 16 50 

Charles A. Ropes. . . . 105 

Charles Henrv 53 

Charles H. Wolston. . 132 

Charles Kellev 91 

Charles Luling 126 



Charlotte 55 75 

Charlotte Jameson.... 99 

Chase 90 

Cicero 25 

Cincinnatus 46 

City of New York 66 

Clara 74 

Clara Clinton 97 

Clara Jane 93 

Clara Smith 93 

Clarissa 58 

Clio 30 

Coal Barge No. 7. . . . 133 

Coal Barge No. 16. . 133 

Coal Barge No. 788.. 135 

Colchis 56 

Col. Crockett 40 

Commerce 91 

Commodore Barney... 26 

Conanchet 65 

Condor 116 

Conquest 86 

Convoy 95 

Cora Etta 109 

Cordelia 63 

Corinth 58 

Cornwallis 56 

Cross Rip lightship 81 104 

Cuba 29 

Culdoon 118 

CuUoden 29 

Curlew 31 48 

Cyclone 64 

Cydonia 102 



D 

Daniel Brittain 95 

Daniel Reed 86 

Dauntless 108 

David Ames 92 97 

David Faust 110 120 

David S. Siner 123 

Dean 54 

Deborah 27 

Demarara 71 

Demozelle 121 

Diana 30 

Dollv Varden 105 

Dolphin 13 56 

Dorothy 128 

Douglass 22 

Dove 49 

Drinkwater 61 

Dromo 42 



147 



E 

Earl of Eglington. . . 52 

E. C. Gates 134 

Eddie Pierce 98 

Edward 68 

Edward H. Norton. . 98 

Edward King 84 

Edwin I. Morrison.. 100 

Eflfort 61 

Eldorado 93 

E. L. Dow 120 

Eleanor 74 

Eleanor F. Bartram.. 130 
Elisha A. Baker. ... 72 

Eliza 18 38 82 121 

Eiiza Hupper 57 

Eliza J. Raynor.... 100 

Elizabeth 40 54 

Ella Clifton 133 

Ellen 43 

Ellen E. Perkins. . . . 116 

Ellen R 107 

Elmiranda 115 

Elwine Fredericke . . . 72 

Emma 95 121 

Emma C. Middleton. . 122 
Emma G. Edwards. . 95 

Emolument 42 

England 61 

Enola C HO 

Enterprise 46 46 51 116 

Erie 121 

Escort 68 

Etiwan 61 

Etta A. Stimson.... 94 

Eudorus 88 

Eunice H. Adams. . 79 
Eva B. Douglass. . . . 112 

Eveline Treat 76 

Evelvn Thompson.... 137 

E. W. Bentley 101 

Exact 50 

Experiment 35 

Exportation H 



F 

Pairplay 44 50 

Fame 17 19 31 51 

Fanny Bagley 81 

Federal 43 

Fleetwing 114 

Flora M. Hurlburt ... 87 

Flor del Mar 39 

Florence IV 134 

Florida 9, 36 

Fly Away 124 

Forest City 112 

Forest Prince 60 

Port Hill 47 

Frances M 134 

Francis 25 

Francis J. O'Hara. . . 129 
Francis & Lovell .... 48 

Francis Miller 31 

Prank 103 

Frank A. Palmer... 124 
Prank M. Noyes. ... 100 

Franklin 37 

P. R. Baird 123 124 

Predericka Schepp. . . 128 

Frederick Fish 91 

French Van Gilder.. 106 



G 

Gauges 24 37 

Gaspee 134 

Gazettee 75 

G. Barrows 87 

Gem 37 

Gen. Knox 74 

Gen. Peavey 74 

Gen. Taylor 66 

George B. Ferguson.. 126 

George E. Klinck. . . . 138 

George P. Hudson. . . 136 

George W. Andrews.. 87 
George Washington 58 64 

Georgetown 127 

Georgianna 34 

Georgie Pearl 134 

G. P. Hathaway.... 100 

Glenlevit 82 

Glenroy 63 

Globe 30 

Golconda 41 

Good Intent 15 

Gossamer 64 

Grace Gushing 106 

Grampus 110 

Granite 38 

Grecian 45 

Guerriere 84 

Guilford 81 

Guilia D 92 



H 

Halcyon 41 48 

Hannah P. Carlton.. 104 

Hannah Hicks 66 

Hannah & Mary. ... 35 

Harriet 50 

Harriet Puller 91 

Harriet Livesley 83 

Harriet Newell 87 

Harry Bluff 83 

Harry & Fred 93 

Hartford 68 

Harvard 69 

Harvest 44 

Hattie & Maggie. . . . 124 

Haynes 78 

Hazard 98 

Hector 31 

Helen 41 

Helen W. Martin. . . . 134 

Henrietta 44 

Henry 46 

Hesper 28 

Hill Carter . . 70 

H. Means 87 

Holly 28 

Homer 57 

Hoogley 41 

Hope & Susan 43 

Horatio Hall 129 

H. P. Kirkham 112 

H. S. Billins 100 

H. S. Sibley 13 7 

H. T. Townsend 105 

Hudson 30 

H. W. Poster 97 

Hyperon 37 



I 

Ida 136 

Ida Mailler 62 

Improvement 30 

Independence 31 

Iris 28 

Irving 88 

Isaac Carver 58 

Isabel 60 

Island Home 97 

I. & P. Chase 67 

J 

Jacinto 75 

Jacob A. Wester velt. . 58 

Jacob Perkins 58 

Jaffa 71 

James Davis 70 

James McCoy 36 

James Watson 108 

James W. Panning. . . 60 

Jane 44 58 

Jane Palmer.... 127 136 
J. Arthur Lord... 123 129 

Jasper 51 

J. B. Myers 82 

Jefferson Borden .... 95 

Jennie 119 

Jennie Morton 75 

Jessie 138 

J. E. Woodworth 81 

Joanna 18 

Joel F. Shepard 113 

John 24 38 

John D. Williams 91 

John Parnum 91 

John Harris 32 

John Keller 43 

John Shaw 67 

John Swasey 67 

John Tunis 61 

Jonathan Sawyer 124 

Josefa 94 

Joseph G. Stover.... 106 

Joseph Starbuck 46 

J. R. Teal 114 

J. S. Winslow 101 

Julia A. Berkele. 131 133 

Julia E. Pratt 108 

Julian 16 IS 

J. W. Carver 98 

J. W. Cooper 122 

J. W. Hall 95 

K 

Kate B. Ogden 123 

Kate Poster Ill 

L 

Latona 129 

Laura 46 51 

Laura R. Burnham.. 101 

Laura V. Rose 114 

Lawrence Hines 109 

L. B. Myers 72 

Leesburg 80 

Leila 56 83 

Leo 45 

Leolah 56 

Lexington 43 

Lije Houghton 97 



148 



Iiincoln 51 

Lion '42 46 

Litchfield 50 

Liverpool Packet 71 

Lizzie M. Center. 120 123 

London Packet 21 

Louisa go 

Louisa of Phipsburg. . 35 

Louis Phillippe 54 

Lowden I4 

Lucy Ellen 59 

Lucy Jones 109 

Lueila 116 

Luther Eldredge. 120 121 

Lyndon 105 



M 

Macon gO 

Madison ' .' .' gi 

Magnolia '.,'/, 34 

Maine 42 

Maize .".''.' 43 

Malabar \[ lOo 

Mansfield ..." 123 

Manzanilla ..', gg 

Margaret Jane. ....'! 43 

Marietta Tilton 90 

Marinah 57 

Mariner '. .' 52 

Marshall Ney. ......'. 34 

Martha Innis 103 

Marthas Vineyard. . . '. 122 

^Jary 17 24 42 

Mary Adams 37 

Mary Ann \ 91 

Mary Anna " 35 

Mary C. Ames. ....'." 64 

Mary E. Dana 99 

Mary P. Barrett 138 

Mary Francis. . 39 48 48 

Mary George 59 

Mary Hart '. 39 

Mary Hawes. ... 102 

Mary H. Banks. ..."." 86 

Mary ,Tane 33 

Mary Louise .'. 89 

Mary Maria 49 

Marv Perkins ' ' 57 

Matilda M 85 

Mattie W. Atwood. '.'.'. 109 

Matty Maria 56 

Maud Palmer ' 135 

May 43 

May Queen 71 

McDonough . . 49 

M. D. Borda " ' " 114 

Mentor 113 

Meridan 52 

Merriwa ' ' 103 

Mertie B. Crowlev . .' .' .' 129 

Mexico 42 43 

Miles Standish 35 

Minmanueth 87 

Minna [[ 43 

Minnie 45 130 

Minnie C. Taylor.' ... II4 

Minnie Slauson 130 

Afississippi ' 45 

M. J. Soley .'. 124 

Mnllie Rhodes 13] 

Molly 33 

Montauk ,[ 123 



Morea 41 

Moses Warreaton. . . 72 
Myrtle 57 

N 

Nancy Finley 46 

Nautueket 57 

Nathan Clifford 97 

Nathaniel Hooper. . . 41 

Nautilus 31 

Nelly 31 

Nelson 42 

Nellie F. Pickering. . II5 

Nellie G. Adams.... 127 

Nellie Waters 128 

Nettie B. Dobbins... 130 

Nevis 70 

Newton 73 

New York gs 

N. G. Hitchborn. ... 67 

N. H. Skinner 122 

Nil Desperandum. ... 81 

Nimble 102 

Nokomis 132 

Nordkoping 22 

Noma 37 

Nostri Genitore Ill 

Nyanza log 

O 

Ocean 20 51 

Odessa 73 

Old Colony 53 

OI've 19 45 

Only Daughter 44 

Ontario 45 

Orb 45 

Oregon 106 

Orozimbo 124 



Pacific 34 

Packet 19 32 35 

Palestine 41 

Pallender 33 

Paoli 14 

Papa Luigi C 90 

Paragon 30 

Parkgate 125 

Patmos 45 

Pearl 29 44 

Pelon 50 

Penobscot 42 

Persia g5 

Phebe Ann 29 37 

Planet 31 

Planter 45 69 

Platina 45 

Ploughboy 44 

Poinsett 34 

Polly 32 

Pomphret 33 

Portland ig 

Portugal 49 55 

Prescott 63 

Princesson 22 

Progress 125 



Queen 2I 

Quivet 93 



B 

Ralph M. Haywood.. 133 

Rambler , . . . . 54 

Ranger 30 33 

Rapid 31 

R. Baker, Jr loo 

Reaper 29 38 

Rebecca Bartlett. ... 86 

Rebecca Fogg g2 

Regina 134 

Reindeer 34 

Rennie J. Carlton... 101 

Republic 9 g9 

Republican 18 43 

R. H. Puriton 89 

Richard S. Leaming. 127 

Richmond 49 57 

Ringleader 33 

Ringold 70 

Rising Sun 39 

R. M. Helsen 98 

Robert G. Shaw.... 53 

Robert Reed 63 

Robert Wain 40 

Rochester 14 

Roger Drury 133 

Rolando 45 

Rose 35 '37 45 

Rough and Ready... 61 



Sallie B 115 

Sally 15 16 30 31 32 

Sammy Ford 105 

Samuel Colt 79 

Samuel Tyler 29 

Sandalphon 79 

Santuit II4 

Sarah 65 68 

Sarah A. Nichols.... 73 

Sarah Ann 32 

Sarah Moore 65 

Sarah M. Smith 84 

Sarah Woodbridge. . . 69 

Saunders 69 

Saxon 76 84 

Scotia Queen 126 

Scotland 72 

Sea Lark 75 

Semiramis 17 

S. G. Haskell 130 

Shanunga 60 

Shenandoah .... 129 133 

Shooting Star 68 

Sidney Price 83 

Silas Parker 51 

Silivae 54 

Silver Cloud 63 

Sir Sidney Smith.... 20 

Smith Tuttle 82 

Solon 28 

Sophia 52 

Souther go 

South Shoal Lightship 8 

Speedwell 98 

Splendid 65 

S. Sawyer 128 

Stadacona 76 

St. Andrews 27 

St. Elmo 118 

St. Mary 106 

St. Thomas 123 

Star Castle 80 



149 



Stella 71 

Stephen Morris 119 

Stoiiinjtou 131 

Strong 28 

Superb 29 

Susan 19 30 70 

Susannah 24 

Susan & Jane 54 

Susan & Mary 68 

T 

Tally Ho 103 

Talma 37 

Tawtemeo 60 

T. B. Witherspoon . . 107 

Templar g2 

Thames 50 

Thetis 29 

Thomas B. Garland.. 131 

Thomas D. Harrison. 101 

Thomas & Mary.... 19 

Tiger ". 134 

Timor 64 

Trade Wind 98 

Transit 67 

Traveller 32 

Tremont 45 

Triton 43 

Triumph 56 74 

T. S. McClellan 103 



Two Brothers 117 

Two Sisters 28 

U 

U. B. Fisk 98 

Undine 88 

Unexpected 82 

Union 42 60 92 92 

Urchin 31 

V 

Vashti R. Gates 104 

Velocia 34 

Velocipede 70 

Venus 64 

Vesta 62 

Victory 27 

Vintage 59 

Volant 38 73 

Voltaire 49 

Vulcan 112 

W 

Walcott 55 

Waquoit 130 

Warren Sawyer 104 

Warsaw 40 

Washington 36 46 



Ware 43 

Wellington 36 59 

West Dennis 87 

Western Belle 113 

Westerwick 22 

West Wind 97 

W. F. Mjarshall 89 

William 27 29 53 

William B. Palmer. . 131 

William Capes 88 

William C. McDonald. 117 

William D. Cargil. ... 96 

William E. Young. . . . 119 

William H. Qallison. . 134 

William Jones 75 

William Marshall.... 121 

William Penn 35 

William Smith 38 

William Todd 24 

William & Henry 35 36 40 

William & Nancy.... 28 

Willy & Emmy 86 

Winnigance .'. 121 

Winslow 80 

Wolga 38 

W. O. Nettletoii II9 

W. T. Dugan 55 



Z. L. Adams. 



83 



